Mauritius’s Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit arrested a fifth suspect in the south-west of the island on Friday 4 September 2026 and placed him in detention.[1] Investigators suspect he was an important link in an attempt to import 155.7 kg of cannabis, valued at Rs 234 million, from Réunion by sea over the weekend of 25 and 26 July.[1][2][3][4]
The drug was seized on the Réunion side. Gendarmes found 157 kg of cannabis in a van at Bras-Panon, at the mouth of the Rivière du Mât, on Sunday 26 July, and arrested three people who were later placed in pre-trial detention.[5][6][7][3][8] A fast boat that the gendarmerie had seen offshore was found the next day near Le Morne in Mauritius.[6]
In Mauritius, the ADSU arrested Yogajee Govind, known as Gulshan, at Chamarel on 31 July, where police said he had four cannabis plants and a bottle of methadone.[6][7][3][4][8] The 42-year-old plumber is the husband of Véronique Leu-Govind, the minister delegate for arts and culture.[6][9][7] Ravindra Chimajee, 37, the suspected skipper, was arrested at a clinic in Baie-du-Tombeau.[6][9][8]
Govind was charged at the Bambous court on 3 August with conspiracy to import cannabis with an averment of trafficking, cultivating cannabis and possessing methadone; Chimajee was charged the next day with the same conspiracy offence.[9] Both were remanded after the prosecution opposed bail.[9] Two other men, Daniel José Auguste and Shaan Kumar Choolun, are also in detention in the case.[1]
The opposition called for the minister’s resignation, and Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam said she would stay, citing the presumption of innocence and saying there was no evidence she was involved.[6]
The political party of minister Véronique Leu-Govind said it was following the investigation and any resulting proceedings with the greatest attention.[7]
Presented on Saturday before the Port-Louis court, he was not released on bail after police cited a risk of reoffending, pressure on witnesses and tampering with evidence.[3] In a statement published on Saturday, the Les Nouveaux Démocrates party, to which Véronique Leu-Govind belongs, acknowledged the arrest and recalled its fundamental attachment to the principle of presumption of innocence.[3]
On 7 September 2026 the Financial Crimes Commission moved two speedboats from suspect Ravindra Chimajee’s home to its Réduit Triangle headquarters, with forensic examination of the cabin, lockers and cockpit ordered.[10] The FCC inquiry also examined possible money laundering linked to the network.[10]
One of four Mauritians detained in Madagascar is said to be implicated in the attempted import of the 155.7 kg of cannabis seized at Bras-Panon.[11]
Investigators were examining whether the Madagascar case and the 155.7 kg cannabis seizure shared supply channels, transport methods or known protagonists.[12]
