Mauritius investigates major drug seizure and bank collapse fugitives

Mauritius is pursuing international arrest warrants for nine individuals linked to the collapse of Silver Bank Ltd. Prime Minister Navin Ramgoolam announced that the Financial Crimes Commission is seeking Interpol Red Notices for eight foreign nationals and one Mauritian following an alleged Rs 7 billion toxic loans scandal. The fugitives, who left the country between January 2023 and February 2025, include owners Prateek Gupta, Ginni Gupta, and Purushotam Menon, along with former CEO Vasil Revishvili and interim CEO Alexander Bello.

Separately, authorities have arrested eight people, including seven Thai nationals and a coastguard officer, following the seizure of 1.5 tonnes of cannabis and hashish valued at Rs 2.7 billion. The drugs were intercepted off the coast of Baie-du-Tombeau on a Thai-flagged yacht named Dreamer. Investigators are examining whether recent civil unrest in Mauritius between October 13 and 19 was orchestrated by criminal networks to serve as a diversion for the drug smuggling operation.