NADC CEO: Criminal Networks Are Targeting Vulnerable Youth

Kunal Naik, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Anti-Drug Commission (NADC), has raised the alarm over a calculated strategy by criminal networks in Mauritius: using vulnerable young people as tools to expand drug trafficking operations.

The NADC is the government body responsible for coordinating drug prevention, treatment and rehabilitation efforts across Mauritius. It works alongside the police, schools, community organisations and health services to tackle substance abuse and the criminal networks that profit from it.

According to Naik, criminal groups do not randomly recruit young people. They deliberately seek out those who are already in a fragile position, whether due to poverty, family instability, school dropout, unemployment or social isolation. Once identified, these young people are drawn into the drug trade, often starting as couriers or low-level dealers before becoming more deeply embedded in criminal structures.

This approach allows trafficking networks to shield their senior figures from exposure. Young recruits, who may not fully understand the legal consequences or the danger they face, take on the highest-risk roles. They become expendable to the people running the operations from above.

Naik's warning comes at a time when Mauritius is grappling with rising concerns about youth involvement in crime and disorder. Recent unrest across the island has highlighted how quickly young people can be mobilised, and how easily that energy can be directed toward destructive ends when legitimate opportunities are absent.

The NADC CEO stressed that tackling drug trafficking cannot be reduced to policing alone. Prevention, early intervention and creating meaningful alternatives for at-risk youth are equally critical. Families, schools and community leaders all have a role to play in identifying young people who are being targeted before criminal networks fully absorb them.

What this means: For parents, teachers and community workers in Mauritius, this is a call to recognise the warning signs early. Young people who suddenly have unexplained income, change their social circle, drop out of school or become secretive may already be in contact with criminal recruiters. The NADC offers counselling and rehabilitation services, and reporting concerns early can make a significant difference. For policymakers, the message is that youth unemployment and social exclusion are not just economic problems: they are public safety risks that organised crime actively exploits.

Source: Le Defi Media