The Drug Scourge

Editorial

A National Crisis Demanding the Highest Political Will

The problem of drug proliferation has ceased to be a peripheral concern; it has metastasized into a national crisis threatening the fundamental stability and security of our society. The escalating rate of drug trafficking and consumption, particularly of insidious synthetic varieties, has reached a critical stage, manifesting directly in an undeniable spike in crime, including more frequent burglaries and acts of aggression. This is not merely a social ill; it is a ticking time bomb that is corroding the national fabric, impacting our economic future, and shattering the lives of our youth. The fight against this scourge demands immediate, unwavering resolve, and a strategic intervention from the very pinnacle of political power.

This issue is not secondary to debates about the Budget, deficits, or pension reform; it is a fundamental threat to the very fabric of our society. It is a drain on our human capital, a destabilizing force in our communities, and a corrupting influence on our institutions. The true depth of this societal ‘canker’ is obscured by the inherently covert nature of the illicit trade, but the consequences—shattered lives, broken families, and communities grappling with addiction—are profoundly destructive and undeniable.

The Problem of Perception and Political Will

The recent criticisms levelled at the National Agency for Drug Control (NADC), particularly its new leadership, for the persistent rise in drug activity, is understandable given the gravity of the situation. However, in our view, laying the blame squarely at the NADC’s feet is unfair and strategically misguided.

The NADC is facing the daunting task of coordinating a national response against an entrenched, sophisticated, and transnational criminal enterprise. The recent, well-publicized internal dissent, including the critical distance taken by government partner Rezistans ek Alternativ (ReA), highlights a genuine malaise and the urgent need for a clear, coherent national strategy. While ReA’s critique rightly questions the agency’s initial efficacy five months in, it simultaneously underscores a crucial point: the responsibility for defining the overarching anti-drug policy rests not with the agency, but with the ministerial committee and, ultimately, the highest levels of political leadership.

The drug issue is, at its core, a political issue, demanding political decisions. It is the political leadership that commands the necessary power, the institutional framework, the personnel, and the legislative tools to address this crisis. Their responsibility is to set a clear, uncompromising direction, empower the NADC, and ensure coordination across all key institutions—police, customs, intelligence, and justice. Merely criticizing the agency risks deflecting attention from where the real power to effect change lies.

Unmasking the Infiltration and Corruption

The effectiveness of our fight is intrinsically linked to the strength and integrity of our law enforcement. It is deeply troubling that local residents in small villages can easily identify a dozen synthetic drug sellers, yet their identities somehow remain unknown to the police. This glaring disconnects points to systemic failures: either a severe lack of resources and intelligence capabilities or, more disturbingly, a pervasive infiltration of corruption within the very institutions sworn to protect the public.

Past commissions of inquiry, most notably those led by Justices Rault and Lam Shang Leen, have unequivocally confirmed the alarming reality of lower-level politicians and public officials undermining key public institutions. While large drug seizures and arrests are announced, these figures tell us nothing about the vast quantities that filtered through undetected, supporting an illicit industry whose proceeds are estimated at several percent of our GDP.

The pervasive nature of this illicit industry demands that we ask uncomfortable questions: Are powerful mafia-like drug gangs operating with impunity within our borders? If drug cartels have infiltrated our system to the extent that they can embarrass a large swathe of law-and-order officials, can they truly be dealt with effectively by the current repressive anti-drug regime? Our intelligence agencies must surely possess information on individuals whose lifestyles and assets far exceed their declared means. The challenge lies not in mere apprehension, but in dismantling the complex money-laundering mechanisms—through fast-food outlets, casinos, and sophisticated distribution circuits—that sustain this criminal ecosystem.

The Pragmatic Shift: Legalisation and Depenalisation

A central element of the required political intervention involves a courageous, evidence-based review of our counter-drug strategy, moving beyond a strictly repressive regime that has failed to stem the tide. The political leadership has the option to strengthen the laws to deal with trafficking, or it can choose a more pragmatic path: the legalisation or Depenalisation of cannabis.

The current debate, intensified by recent contradictory statements from the NADC Chairman, highlights the confusion and the urgent need for clarity. Our current repressive approach has overwhelmingly failed to solve the drug problem, often merely filling prisons with users rather than dismantling criminal networks.

A shift towards a pragmatic policy—namely, the managed Depenalisation of cannabis—holds the potential to produce better results, as demonstrated in several international jurisdictions. Uruguay became the first country to fully legalize cannabis in 2013, regulating its production and sale. In the United States, multiple states, including Colorado and Washington, have legalized cannabis for recreational use, generating significant tax revenue and redirecting law enforcement resources. More recently, Canada implemented federal legalisation in 2018. These examples suggest that a regulated market can successfully divert consumers from the illicit trade, allow police to focus on serious trafficking, and provide an economic alternative to criminal organisations.

This is not a call for simple, blind legalisation. As Navin Ramgoolam prudently noted during the NADC bill debate, the complexity demands scientific studies and nuanced debate. Depenalisation removes criminal sanctions for personal use, allowing for warnings or fines, while legalisation permits regulated sale, possession, and cultivation. The crucial factor is whether users, particularly those currently consuming synthetic drugs, can be genuinely persuaded to shift to a legal, regulated cannabis product. There is a real risk that if synthetic drugs remain significantly cheaper and more readily accessible, users might not switch.

The NADC must thoroughly investigate these aspects. The political leadership must resolve this debate swiftly, armed with data and international best practices, and implement a policy that truly steers individuals away from more harmful substances. The sooner this issue is resolved, the better for the country.

A Societal Time Bomb

The fight against the drug scourge is a fight for our national soul. It is a responsibility that lies, unequivocally, with the highest level of government. They possess the men, the institutions, and the tools to deal with this crisis.

To disarm this societal time bomb, we must:

– Unflinchingly root out corruption at every level of our law enforcement and political structures.
– Empower the NADC with a clear mandate, full resources, and political backing, recognizing that it is an implementing body, not the ultimate policy-maker.
– Implement intelligent, evidence-based drug policies, including a definitive and evidence-led decision on the managed Depenalisation of cannabis.
– Secure our borders and dismantle the complex money-laundering networks that are the lifeblood of the illicit trade.

The stakes are too high. Failure to act decisively and comprehensively now will condemn future generations to a society defined by crime, addiction, and institutional decay. The time for hesitant, fragmented policy is over. Only a bold, uncompromising, and politically-driven national strategy can safeguard our future.

Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 10 October 2025