Two Buried Shotgun Cartridges Found in Quartier-Militaire

Two shotgun cartridges were discovered buried in the ground in Quartier-Militaire, a town located in the Moka district in the centre of Mauritius, according to a report by Le Défi Media. The cartridges, both of calibre 12 — the most common shotgun gauge used worldwide — were found concealed beneath the soil. The exact location within Quartier-Militaire and the circumstances of their discovery have not been fully detailed in the initial report. Mauritian police have been informed and an investigation is underway to determine who buried the cartridges and why. Possession of ammunition without a licence is a criminal offence under Mauritian law, and the find is likely to be treated as a serious matter by authorities. **What is calibre 12?** A calibre-12 (or 12-gauge) cartridge is standard shotgun ammunition. While it has legitimate uses in licensed hunting and sport shooting, its presence buried in a public or private area raises immediate concerns for law enforcement about illegal firearms activity. **Why this matters in Mauritius** Mauritius maintains strict gun control laws. The possession, importation, and use of firearms and ammunition are tightly regulated under the Firearms Act. Any unlicensed ammunition find is investigated by the Mauritius Police Force, which takes such discoveries seriously given the island's generally low rate of gun-related crime. Finds of buried ammunition — even without an accompanying weapon — can indicate illegal arms caching, and police will typically search the surrounding area for further items. Quartier-Militaire, despite its military-sounding name (it was historically linked to a military post during colonial times), is today a quiet agricultural and residential town. Any such discovery there is considered unusual. No arrests had been reported at the time of publication. Source: Le Défi Media