VICTORIA, Seychelles — President of the Republic and Commander-in-Chief of the Seychelles Defence Forces, Dr Patrick Herminie, has extended his highest commendation to the SDF for their outstanding performance in the recent interception of a dhow vessel carrying a substantial quantity of suspected illicit narcotics. The President praised the professionalism, vigilance, and operational readiness demonstrated by the maritime and security units involved in the operation.
The interception forms part of a coordinated regional effort under the framework of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), through its Safe Seas Africa programme supported by the European Union. According to reports, the operation led to a record seizure of approximately 2,007 kilogrammes of suspected narcotics, including methamphetamine and heroin, off the Kenyan coast.
The SDF’s contribution, including deployment of a maritime patrol aircraft to track the suspect vessel from Mombasa until it was intercepted by the Kenyan Navy, was central to the success of the operation. The Seychelles government continues to play an active role in the regional maritime security architecture, which also includes the Regional Maritime Information Fusion Centre (RMIFC) based in Madagascar and the CRIMARIO initiative, hosted in Seychelles.
President Herminie’s commendation underscores the importance the new administration places on safeguarding the country’s maritime domain and supporting regional cooperation in the fight against transnational organised crime. The SDF has reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with international partners to disrupt the trafficking of narcotics and other illicit goods in the western Indian Ocean.
