Drug seizures further increased in Reunion in 2024

While cocaine seizures reached a record level in France in 2024 with 47 tonnes seized and more than a million French people admitted to having used it in 2023, Reunion Island is no longer immune to the phenomenon.

This “white tsunami”, with world production which has never been so high, has reached the island. This is evidenced by the increase “exponential” quantities seized in 2024.

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Drug seizures will further increase in Reunion in 2024

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©Reunion the 1st

“Since the end of the health crisis, there has been a trend of increasing seizures of narcotics, particularly hard drugs” confirms Nicolas Le Gall, the regional director of customs in Reunion. “This is the case for cocaine, synthetic drugs but also seizures of cannabis resin which are experiencing a very significant increase.”

Thus, more than 50 kg of cocaine were intercepted in 2024, compared to 30 kg in 2023 and 16 in 2022. The same notable increase for ecstasy with 172,000 pills seized in 2024 compared to 76,000 the previous year. Concerning cannabis resin, we went from 196 kg in 2023 to more than 500 kg in 2024.

An increase in seizures which probably reflects an increase in local consumption, while the goods arriving in Reunion are not intended to bounce to another destination.

“When it comes to cocaine, it is a global phenomenon, a “white tsunami” which also affects Reunion Island”continues the regional director. “This type of product is consumed increasingly, even if the quantities may seem small compared to the figures for mainland France”he emphasizes.

In addition to postal freight, the phenomenon of “mules” continues to take hold, with 23 people arrested in 2024, 11 of whom were transporting the goods “in corpore”. There were 21 arrests the previous year, for 7 “in corpore”.

With increasingly young smugglers, sometimes minors as evidenced by a recent case. “The profiles are changing, it’s quite worrying”observes Nicolas Le Gall.

Monday January 13, three young women were arrested when they got off the plane in Gillot in possession of two kg of cocaine, one kg of MDMA and 30 kg of cannabis resin, with a value approaching one million euros. euros for resale.

Importation by sea remains limited for the moment it seems, even if customs officers are also increasing their vigilance there. “In 2025, we will be equipped with a mobile radar which will allow containers to be checked with much faster resolution of doubt”warns the customs director.

However, this notable increase in seizures, particularly of cocaine, worries the health authorities who launched for the first time in 2024 at the local level a targeted campaign to raise awareness of the dangers of cocaine consumption.

“It is a consumption that has become common, and we must alert the population because it can generate major dependencies with difficult withdrawal procedures”warns Dr David Mété, head of the addiction department at La Réunion University Hospital.

“We fear the spread of cocaine and crack consumption as in the West Indies. We have difficult social conditions for this consumption to take hold and cause even greater social damage”

Dr David Mété, head of the addiction department at La Réunion University Hospital

Consumption of products which is accompanied by a risk of disease transmission through the sharing of consumption instruments such as straws.