Jean-Hubert Celerine, alias Franklin, was arrested in Mauritius on 7 February 2023.[1] Officers of the Mauritian anti-corruption commission arrested him at his home in Rivière-Noire and took him to the Bambous court.[1] Le Mauricien confirmed that the Rivière-Noire resident was arrested after questioning following the freezing of his assets and would be taken to the Bambous court.[2] He was then placed in detention until 20 February, with a further court appearance scheduled for 14 February.[1]

He was not then accused of drug trafficking but was suspected of laundering 25 million rupees through real estate.[1] Mauritius Supreme Court had ordered his bank accounts frozen on 31 January 2023 after his lifestyle attracted attention.[1]

Franklin had been convicted in absentia on 2 July 2021 by the Saint-Denis correctional court and sentenced to seven years in prison for transport, possession, offer and acquisition of narcotics, with an arrest warrant issued against him.[1] He was described as the alleged organiser of zamal boat traffic between the two islands from January 2017 to April 2018.[1] On 14 January 2023 he held a press conference denying Reunion drug involvement and claiming mistaken identity.[1]

After Mauritian media published details of the Reunion conviction on 5 February 2023, he sought a Supreme Court injunction to block extradition to Reunion, which the judge rejected.[1]