Mauritius Calls for Global Framework to Fight Indian Ocean Drug Trade
A Mauritian Indian Ocean Commission official urged a coordinated global maritime security response at a New Delhi seminar, citing drug trafficking, piracy and undersea cable threats.
For an island nation like Mauritius, managing an exclusive economic zone of 2.3 million square kilometres of ocean is a daily challenge. Drug trafficking, arms smuggling, piracy and threats to undersea infrastructure are all on the rise across the region, and Mauritius is pushing for the world to take notice.
Speaking at a seminar on Indo-Pacific security held in New Delhi, Raj Mohabeer, the Mauritian government's representative at the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), called for a comprehensive global framework to protect critical maritime infrastructure and strengthen regional cooperation. The IOC, known by its French acronym COI, is an intergovernmental organisation grouping Mauritius, Reunion, Madagascar, Comoros and Seychelles, focused on regional cooperation across the south-west Indian Ocean.
One of the most pressing concerns raised by Mohabeer was the vulnerability of undersea telecommunications cables. The global internet and financial system depends on roughly 500 submarine cables running across the ocean floor. Between 150 and 200 cable breaks are recorded worldwide every year, and authorities are increasingly worried that some of these incidents may not be accidental. The difficulty of determining whether damage is deliberate or caused by anchors and natural events is a growing security concern for governments across the region.
On drug trafficking, Mohabeer described the western Indian Ocean basin as a major transit corridor for heroin, cocaine and synthetic drugs. He pointed to the Seychelles as a stark example of the human cost, noting that approximately 10 percent of that country's population is affected by addiction, a figure linked directly to the volume of narcotics moving through the region by sea. He stressed that intercepting shipments at sea, before they reach shore, requires coordinated maritime patrols that no single country can manage alone.
The original article also references wider threats, including piracy, which has historically disrupted commercial shipping lanes connecting Asia, the Gulf and Europe through the Indian Ocean. While Somali piracy peaked around 2011, regional officials warn that the conditions that enabled it remain and that new hotspots are emerging.
What this means: Mauritius sits at the centre of one of the world's most strategically important stretches of ocean. Its vast maritime zone is an asset for fishing and resource rights, but also a responsibility. Without shared surveillance systems, joint patrols and legally binding international frameworks, the country's coastguard and navy cannot realistically police waters stretching from Africa to Asia. Mohabeer's call in New Delhi signals that Mauritius is actively lobbying at the diplomatic level for the multilateral tools its geography demands. For residents, the drug trafficking angle is especially relevant, as narcotics entering the region by sea have been linked to rising addiction rates and organised crime across small island nations, including Mauritius itself.
Source: ION News
Frequently Asked Questions
How large is Mauritius's exclusive economic zone and why does it matter?β
Mauritius has an exclusive economic zone of approximately 2.3 million square kilometres, one of the largest in the world relative to the country's land area. This zone gives Mauritius sovereign rights over fishing, resources and navigation within those waters, but also the responsibility to monitor and secure them against drug trafficking, smuggling and other threats.
What is the Indian Ocean Commission and what role does it play in maritime security?β
The Indian Ocean Commission, known by its French acronym COI, is a regional intergovernmental body whose members are Mauritius, Reunion (France), Madagascar, the Comoros and Seychelles. It promotes cooperation on trade, the environment and security across the south-west Indian Ocean. Mauritius has a dedicated government representative at the COI who engages on issues including maritime surveillance and drug interdiction.
Why are undersea cables a security concern in the Indian Ocean?β
Around 500 submarine cables carry the vast majority of international internet traffic and financial transactions globally. Between 150 and 200 breaks are recorded each year worldwide, and officials cannot always determine whether damage is accidental or deliberate. In the Indian Ocean, which carries major cable routes between Europe, the Middle East and Asia, any disruption can affect connectivity and economic activity across multiple countries, including Mauritius.
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