Press Releases

U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement and U.S. Africa Command

July 21, 2008

U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) and U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) are visiting Mauritius to meet with law enforcement officials.  The purpose of these meetings is to offer assistance for capacity building in the law enforcement arena, specifically in relation to drug interdiction and border control.

On Wednesday, ICE/AFRICOM met at the IKS Building with Bert Cunningham, Director of Customs, Deputy Director Mr. Ramkarran.  ICE/AFRICOM also met with Police Commissioner Dhun Iswar Ramersad, Commanding Officer of the Special Mobile Force Khemraj Servansingh, Coast Guard Commandant Vishal Kanwar and Assistant Commissioner Rajen Padiachy of the Anti Drug and Smuggling Unit at Police headquarters.

On Thursday ICE/AFRICOM met with Acting director of the Passport and Immigration Office, Mr. Rajaram and the Port Master, Captain Ponambullum.

On Friday, ICE/AFRICOM met with ACP Clifford Parsad of the Police Minors Brigade at Police Headquarters.

All of these meetings are with the express purpose of strengthening collaboration and providing training and capacity building to combat drug, arms, and human trafficking to and through Mauritius.  These consultations will provide the basis to provide more training to Mauritian officials, such as the April 18, 2008 training where ICE provided training in document fraud detection, alien smuggling and human trafficking to Mauritius customs and immigration officials.