Prime Minister chairs first NDCC Meeting, sets anti-drug priorities

The first meeting of the National Drug Control Commission (NDCC) was held this afternoon at the New Treasury Building in Port Louis, under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam.

The meeting was attended by the Attorney-General, Mr Gavin Patrick Cyril Glover, several Cabinet Ministers, the Chief Commissioner of the Rodrigues Regional Assembly, Mr Franceau Aubret Grandcourt, the Chief Executive Officer of the National Agency for Drug Control (NADC), Mr Kunal Naik, and the agency’s Chairperson, Ms Nadia Peerun.

A copy of the National Drug Control Master Plan 2026-2030, elaborated by the NADC, was presented to the Prime Minister on the occasion. The Master Plan will be accessible on Government’s digital platforms in the coming days.

In a statement, Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam commended the leadership of the NADC for its effective work, noting that the agency has convened several meetings, including 13 dedicated specifically to the medicinal use of cannabis.

Underlining that the current situation regarding synthetic drugs was central to discussions, the Prime Minister indicated that the NADC has enlisted the support of the Forensic Science Laboratory to strengthen its response.

Dr Ramgoolam further noted that the need for the NADC to step up awareness of legal sanctions for drug-related offences in high-risk areas, such as the airport and the port, was also raised during the meeting.

Mr Kunal Naik, for his part, stated that he presented the NADC’s mandate to key stakeholders, and elaborated on the National Drug Control Master Plan 2026–2030 as well as an inception report on cannabis, informed by a Technical Working Group. Stakeholders also discussed key strategies to curb the alarming rise in synthetic drug use across Mauritius and the wider Indian Ocean region, he pointed out.

Moreover, the NADC Chief Executive Officer called for a multi-stakeholder approach to tackling drug-related challenges, emphasising that coordinated efforts would lead to more effective and tangible outcomes.

Ms Nadia Peerun, for her part, underpinned the Government’s shared commitment with the NADC to lead the fight against drugs, highlighting that the agency has received a positive response to its ongoing efforts. She added that the meeting focused on the implementation of the National Drug Control Master Plan 2026–2030, which is set to be launched shortly.

She further announced that the NADC will develop its strategic plans and specific targets based on this framework.

23 April 2026

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Topics: Drugs