Police Uproot 155 Cannabis Plants Near Bagatelle Dam and Mare-Longue

Anti-drug officers in Mauritius uprooted 155 cannabis plants during two separate operations on Tuesday 3 November, targeting wooded areas near Bagatelle Dam and Mare-Longue, in the south of the island.

The first operation began at around 11 a.m. near the Bagatelle Dam reservoir, located in the central highlands of Mauritius. Officers from the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit (ADSU), a specialised branch of the Mauritius Police Force responsible for combating drug trafficking and cultivation, were guided to the site by the police Helicopter Squadron. Using aerial surveillance to identify the hidden plantation, ground teams moved in and uprooted 147 cannabis plants ranging in height from 5 to 90 centimetres.

A second operation followed at around 1:15 p.m. in Mare-Longue, a forested area in the south of the island. There, ADSU officers uprooted a further 8 cannabis plants measuring between 25 and 50 centimetres.

In total, 155 plants were seized across both sites. The identities of those responsible for cultivating the plants remain unknown, and no arrests have been made at this stage. The investigation is ongoing.

The use of the police helicopter to locate the first plantation highlights a growing trend in Mauritius of using aerial support to detect cannabis crops hidden within dense vegetation, away from populated areas. Remote reservoirs and forest zones have been used by growers in past cases precisely because they are difficult to monitor from ground level.

The ADSU conducts regular operations across the island targeting drug cultivation, trafficking and possession. Cannabis remains the most commonly seized illegal substance in Mauritius, and the authorities have intensified enforcement efforts in rural and forested areas in recent years.

Anyone with information related to drug cultivation or trafficking in Mauritius can contact the ADSU or the police emergency line.

Source: ION News