Prosecution lays four charges against five men in leisure boat drug case |30 November 2021

Five Seychellois men who were arrested in a joint operation by the authorities on November 1, and alleged to have been involved in drug and human trafficking, were formally charged before Chief Justice Rony Govinden at the Supreme Court yesterday afternoon.

The five individuals, aged 31, 36, 52, 41 and 25, had four charges laid against them, namely, conspiracy to commit the offence of importation of controlled drug, importation of controlled drug, trafficking in a controlled drug and being engaged in acts preparatory to the commission of the offence.

The five are to reappear before court on December 10 at 2pm, and will be remanded at the Montagne Posée prison.

It must be noted, a sixth individual who was also arrested in connection with the matter is not facing charges.

Of the five who are to be tried, four were arrested in a joint operation by the Seychelles People’s Defence Forces (SPDF), the National Centre for Coordination and Information Seychelles (NISCC) and the Seychelles Police Force, when the Seychelles Coastguard intercepted two leisure boats registered in Seychelles, allegedly with a substantial quantity of drugs onboard.

The fifth suspect was arrested the following day on November 2.

Laura Pillay