Drugs, drugs mega problem in Seychelles and the region

[Grandlarousse]

Seychelles hosts technical level meeting on heroin trafficking

01-April-2015
Seychelles is hosting a three-day technical level meeting on heroin trafficking in the Indian Ocean region.

The meeting, which officially opened on Monday at the Savoy Resort & Spa at Beau Vallon, has brought together 55 delegates ranging from senior officials from drug enforcement agencies, and police services to prosecutors from 17 countries including Seychelles and six observer organisations.

The Indian Ocean Forum on Maritime Crime (IOFMC) technical level meeting on Heroin Trafficking in the maritime domain has been organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

It aims to strengthen existing approaches to fight maritime drug trafficking, analyse research findings conducted on drug routes in the region, discuss legislation for drug prosecutions and support required by regional states, discuss and share best practices in fighting such crimes, seek ways to better coordinate information sharing on maritime crime and in line with that, work towards a track and report mechanism among regional states and develop a focal point mechanism for expedited flag-state response.

The attorney general Ronny Govinden and the chief officer of the National Drug Enforcement Agency (NDEA) Niall Scully, the head of the gobal maritime crime programme of the UNODC Alan Cole, the UNODC programme officer in Seychelles Shanaka Jayasekara are among key personnel to chair panel discussions on related issues.

The Minister for Home Affairs Charles Bastienne officially launched the discussion sessions.

In his opening remarks Minister Bastienne welcomed such a forum to discuss a matter of utmost importance.

“This Indian Ocean Forum on Maritime Crime (IOFMC) technical level meeting on heroin trafficking in maritime domain is of utmost importance for the region, a region which is vulnerable to all sorts of scourges, and maritime drug trafficking is not an exception,” Minister Bastienne pointed out.

He reminded everyone present that Seychelles is no stranger to the effect of maritime crime.

“Seychelles was greatly affected by the maritime piracy a few years ago, but we rose up to the challenges of piracy, and demonstrated not only by word, but by deed our resolute stand in countering such illegal activity,” Minister Bastienne noted.

But Minister Bastienne pointed out that while we may be relatively safe from piracy, the rapid pace of development in our region is now bringing about new challenges; the most notorious one being drug trafficking, be it on our maritime routes or right on our native lands.

“There is no doubt that it would be catastrophic if traffickers keep finding their ways to ship large consignment of drugs in our region through our maritime routes, eventually reaching our shores,” Minister Bastienne pointed out.

He stressed on the need for countries of the region to ensure that these routes remain safe and clear as they are more than ever of paramount importance for the region and small island states like Seychelles.

“This is a challenge we cannot lose; defeat by narcotics trafficking will destroy our societies, our hard work, our successes, and most of all our future generations,” Minister Bastienne stressed.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=244977

[Grandlarousse]

Prevention key to fighting substance abuse – Minister

02-April-2015
Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports Minister Vincent Meriton has reinforced the fact that prevention is the most important means to fight substance abuse especially drugs.

Minister Meriton said substance abuse has and is still costing both families and the state a lot financially and in terms of the number of young lives and future of our young people and the country’s workforce that are just wasting away.

“It is for this reason that we are focusing our efforts on stepping up prevention measures,” Minister Meriton said.

The minister said this in the National Assembly on Tuesday morning while answering a question on the issue by elected member for Plaisance Roma Edmond.

Mrs Edmond had asked if there are any specific programmes to help parents who are suffering and are being traumatised watching their children being affected and their lives ruined through drugs and alcohol abuse.

Minister Meriton explained that it is a known fact that apart from government ministries and agencies different non-governmental organisations and religious affiliated bodies are through various programmes supporting parents and their children who are victims of substance abuse.

“Parents are always the first to come looking for help and support for their children who in many instances are not ready to admit they have an addiction problem and accept help to kick the addiction,” Minister Meriton pointed out.

He reminded Assembly members that the government is doing its utmost through agencies in place to fight importation of and trafficking in illicit drugs.
Referring to the recent seizure of 32kg of heroin, Minister Meriton said if it had reached its destined buyers and users one cannot refrain from thinking of the havoc it would have continued to wreak among our young people.

“We can therefore understand the trauma and suffering of those parents whose children are caught in this destructive web of addiction,” Minister Meriton pointed out.

He acknowledged the effort by different organisations – namely Care, Mont Royale, Car, the Wellness Centre, Dac, among others – to give a helping hand to victims and their families.

He reassured parents that the government remains committed in the fight against substance abuse which concerns and affects all of us in different ways, directly or indirectly.

“It is a fight which should be waged in a concerted manner if we want to succeed,” Minister Meriton said.

Minister Meriton also announced in the Assembly that the Wellness Centre which is situated at Les Cannelles will soon be opening a Drop In Centre in Victoria in order to be closer to people suffering from addiction and their families.

He also announced that the government has approved for the Drug and Alcohol Council (Dac) to be reviewed so that it can expand the services it offers.

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=244990

[Grandlarousse]

APRÈS GRO DEREK : L’accusé Wesley Casimir sans avocat

Me Rex Stephen, qui défendait Wesley Casimir, a logé une motion ce matin pour se retirer en tant qu’avocat du présumé complice de Derek Rudolf Jean Jacques. Le procès débute le 19 mai.
Le procès intenté à Derek Rudolf Jean Jacques, alias Gro Derek, et Bruno Wesley Casimir pour importation d’héroïne a été appelé aux Assises ce matin devant le juge Benjamin Marie Joseph. Maintenant que Gro Derek dispose d’un homme de loi en la personne de Me Bhanji Soni, commis d’office, pour assurer sa défense, c’est au tour du deuxième accusé, Wesley Bruno Casimir, de se retrouver sans avocat. Me Rex Stephen, qui le défendait jusqu’ici, a en effet logé une motion ce matin pour se retirer en tant qu’homme de loi du présumé complice de Derek Rudolf Jean Jacques. Il explique sa décision par des « divergences » quant à la manière dont il allait procéder pour défendre son client. Le juge a accédé à sa motion et Wesley Casimir a jusqu’au 13 mai pour se trouver un nouvel avocat. Pour rappel, cette affaire a été renvoyée à plusieurs reprises, car Gro Derek peinait à trouver un homme de loi.

http://www.lemauricien.com/article/apre ... ans-avocat

[fecas-ecsvs]

Mass marks day against substance abuse

27-June-2015



Faithful Christians gathered yesterday morning at St Theresa’s Church at Plaisance for a mass to commemorate the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.

Organised by Care (Committee for Awareness, Resilience and Education against substance abuse) the mass was held under the theme ‘A deeper meaning of resilience‘.

The mass was celebrated by Father Landry, assisted by Designated Minister Vincent Meriton, the principal secretary for social affairs in the Ministry of Social Affairs, Community Development and Sports Linda William-Melanie, Roman Catholic Bishop Denis Wiehe, Care chairperson Sarah Rene and students from different schools.

In her sermon, Mrs Rene pointed out that we all need to be thankful to God and we should all start by praying every day.

“Today we pray for all the people in need of God. He created us by His image, but why are some people still making bad decisions in life? That’s because they are not following the right path to God. We need to take time and pray every day, let’s all be nice with each other,” she said.

She added that we should be thankful to each other and give support to each other.

“God will always guide us through the right way. It’s also important to communicate with each other, talk about your feelings. The Almighty will give all of you courage to fight against drugs and alcohol.”

Mr Meriton also said a few words for the occasion.

“Let’s have time for our children and educate them about life. Let’s teach them to follow God. Life is hard, we all need to be working together for a better future. Let’s all respect one another.”

http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=245867

[fecas-ecsvs]

NDEA communiqué - R12.5 million in drug seizures in four days

09-July-2015
National Drugs Enforcement Agency (NDEA) teams operating at several different locations in the past four days have made a number of arrests and seized illegal drugs with a combined value of approximately R12.5 million.

A number of those arrested have appeared in court and are to be charged in connection with the discoveries.

Further charges are anticipated as the investigations develop.

The first of the recent seizures occurred on July 3, 2015 when 13 grammes of heroin was recovered during a joint NDEA police operation at Les Mamelles.

The second occurred on July 4, 2015 when suspected heroin with a gross weight of approximately 350 grammes was seized when a consignment was discovered concealed in the wing mirror of a truck that had recently been imported from Dubai.

On July 6, 2015 a cannabis plantation containing 1,384 plants was uncovered during the course of an NDEA early morning operation in the Grand Anse area of Praslin. The plants have been seized and an investigation is ongoing.

On July 7, 2015 1.2kg of heroin was recovered when NDEA agents intercepted a consignment concealed in a vehicle drive shaft that had recently arrived in the country from Dubai.

Also on July 7, 2015 an operation was carried out in the Anse Royale area that resulted in the recovery of 149 packages of heroin from a 23-year-old man.
All of the drugs have been recovered and investigations are underway in connection with each of the operations.

The accompanying photos show some of the drugs that were seized during the operations.
http://www.nation.sc/article.html?id=245983