Mauritius plans new crime agency and cannabis policy reform

The Mauritian government is planning to establish a new National Crime Agency to centralize efforts against serious crime. Modeled after the British National Crime Agency, the new body aims to coordinate services currently operating separately, such as the Financial Intelligence Unit and the Central Criminal Investigation Department. The agency will focus on combating fraud, corruption, money laundering, drug trafficking, and terrorism financing through a centralized intelligence center. Notably, the agency will not possess arrest or prosecution powers, which will remain with existing services and the Director of Public Prosecutions to maintain judicial balance.

Simultaneously, Mauritius is considering significant shifts in its cannabis policies. A technical committee from the National Agency for Drug Control has evaluated options ranging from decriminalization to legalization. This review comes as the country faces a rise in synthetic drug use. Proponents of reform, including the NGO Cure Mauritius and the association Ailes, argue that the current repressive approach is ineffective and disproportionately penalizes youth for minor possession. They suggest that shifting focus away from cannabis could allow law enforcement to better target more harmful synthetic drugs and reduce corruption.