Luco Tony Malazafaly, a 49-year-old Malagasy man held at Beau-Bassin prison, died on Wednesday 14 October 2026 in the prison ward of Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital at Rose-Belle.[1] The exact cause of his death was to be established by an autopsy to be carried out the next day.[1] A notice attributed to Madagascar’s embassy in Mauritius was circulated to find his relatives and inform them of the death.[1] His death came more than two years and nine months after his arrest in an alleged international drug-trafficking case.[1]
He was among six Malagasy nationals intercepted at sea in January 2024 aboard a boat carrying 333 kg of cannabis.[2] Authorities opened an inquiry to shed light on the circumstances surrounding his death.[2] After weighing by the Forensic Science Laboratory that ended late on Monday 8 January aboard CGS Barracuda, 333 kg of cannabis in 24 parcels was brought back to Mauritius.[3] The ADSU put the official value of the cannabis at Rs 399.6 million after weighing it without its packaging.[3] A 172-hour operation led to the arrest of four Mauritians and six Malagasy nationals.[3] The six Malagasy, said to come from Nosy Be and Beramanja in Madagascar, were named as Malazafaly, Jackely Scadiky, Jobila Richard, Aseta Marck Hero, Ismael Aboudou and Janosy Fernand.[1] Four Mauritians suspected of helping to collect the cargo were also arrested.[1] The investigation was assigned to the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit to identify the alleged sponsors, and the suspects appeared in court in January 2024 before being returned to detention.[1]
After several days of surveillance and intelligence-gathering, officers from the Force Crime Intelligence Unit, the Maritime Intelligence Cell and the coast guard intercepted the boat Hydra carrying six Malagasy nationals.[1] The patrol vessel Barracuda intercepted the unregistered boat north-west of Mauritius at about 23:15 on Saturday with 24 parcels of cannabis and 34 cans of fuel aboard.[4] The previous evening, a boat carrying four Mauritians had been intercepted off Pointe-aux-Piments, and one of those aboard reportedly said they were going to collect a drug cargo from the high seas.[4] The four Mauritians appeared in court on provisional charges of conspiracy to attempt to possess drugs and were remanded in police cells.[3] The six Malagasy smugglers, including one minor, appeared in court on provisional drug-importation charges and were remanded in police cells.[3]
