Supreme Court Keeps L'Escalier Woman in Jail Over Rs 24m Cannabis Haul
Marie Nathalia Laviolette, accused of trafficking 20 kg of cannabis smuggled from Reunion Island, has had her bail bid rejected by Mauritius's Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court of Mauritius has upheld a decision to keep a 37-year-old woman from L'Escalier, a village on the southern coast of the island, in pre-trial detention over her alleged role in a large-scale cannabis trafficking operation.
On 21 October 2026, Supreme Court judges rejected a judicial review application filed on behalf of Marie Nathalia Laviolette, confirming an earlier ruling by the Magistrates Court of Mahébourg, which had refused to grant her bail on 10 March 2026.
The case traces back to January 2026, when a significant quantity of cannabis was allegedly smuggled into Mauritius by sea from the nearby French island of Reunion. The drugs, estimated to be worth around Rs 24 million (approximately USD 530,000), were reportedly hidden in a house at Baie-du-Cap, a coastal locality in the south of Mauritius.
On 31 January 2026, police arrested three suspects in connection with the shipment, including Jean Berty David Kardaree, identified as Laviolette's husband. A fourth suspect, Terry Toussaint, was arrested in mid-February 2026. After his arrest, Toussaint reportedly identified Laviolette by the alias "Sorenza" and described her as Kardaree's wife.
Laviolette has been in custody since 24 February 2026, facing two provisional charges. The first is aggravated drug trafficking involving 20 kilograms of cannabis intended for sale. The second is alleged incitement, specifically that she instructed Toussaint to collect the package at Baie-du-Cap and deliver it to her in Rose-Belle, a town in the south-east of Mauritius.
Her lawyer, Sanjeev Teeluckdharry, argued in support of bail that no drugs or suspicious sums of money were found directly linked to his client. Despite these arguments, both the Mahébourg court and the Supreme Court declined to order her release.
What this means: In Mauritius, aggravated drug trafficking is treated as a serious offence under the Dangerous Drugs Act, carrying heavy penalties. When a court refuses bail in such cases, it typically reflects concerns about the strength of the evidence, the severity of the alleged offence, or risks such as flight or interference with witnesses. A judicial review, like the one Laviolette's legal team pursued, allows a party to ask the Supreme Court to examine whether a lower court's decision was lawful, but it does not automatically result in a different outcome. With both courts now having ruled against her release, Laviolette will remain in detention while the case proceeds through the Mauritian justice system.
Source: ION News
Frequently Asked Questions
What is aggravated drug trafficking in Mauritius?−
Under the Mauritius Dangerous Drugs Act, aggravated drug trafficking applies when the quantity of drugs involved exceeds a specified threshold, for cannabis this is generally 10 grams or more for a trafficking charge to be considered aggravated. It carries significantly heavier penalties than simple possession, potentially including lengthy custodial sentences.
How does the bail review process work in Mauritius?−
In Mauritius, if a Magistrates Court refuses bail, the accused can apply to the Supreme Court for a judicial review of that decision. The Supreme Court examines whether the lower court applied the law correctly. It does not automatically grant bail; it assesses the lawfulness of the original refusal. In this case, the Supreme Court confirmed the Mahébourg court's refusal.
Where is Baie-du-Cap and why is it significant in this case?−
Baie-du-Cap is a small coastal village on the southern tip of Mauritius, near Le Morne. Its location close to the sea makes it a point of interest in smuggling cases involving goods brought in by boat from nearby islands such as Reunion, which lies approximately 170 kilometres to the west of Mauritius.
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