Drug trafficking in Mauritius
illegal drug trade in Mauritius
Common illegal drugs include marijuana and opiates. According to the 2011 United Nations Drug Report, the small population of Mauritius has a prevalence of opiate consumption of 0.91%, while 3.9% of the population are regular cannabis consumers. Drug smugglers also use Mauritius as a stop over especially during their voyage to the east coast of Africa.
History
Consumption of illegal drugs on the island is not a recent phenomenon. Following the abolition of slavery in 1835, Mauritius, then a British colony, experienced an inflow of indentured labourers from India who introduced cannabis to the island. During the same period, immigrants from China brought opium to the island. These drugs mainly served traditional purposes and were not of serious public concern.
In the late 1970s, "brown sugar", a form of heroin, was introduced. Drug consumption deviated from its rather disciplined socio-cultural use and drug use proliferated. Mass drug proliferation was further aided by the development of extensive air and sea networks to Africa, South and Southeast Asia and Europe, combined with a free port.
The public source identifies “Drug trafficking in Mauritius” as illegal drug trade in Mauritius. This brief keeps that definition visible, then builds a research path around Drug, trafficking and Mauritius.
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