(Seychelles News Agency) - The Seychelles National Drugs Enforcement Agency (NDEA) has netted more than 1,500 grams of what they suspect to be heroin with an estimated street value of million Seychelles rupees (over $350,000) in an early-morning intelligence-led drug bust. The raid was carried out in the Roche Bois area on the periphery of the capital of Victoria on the main island of Mahé.

In a press statement issued today, the agency said the seizure was made by an NDEA patrol following recent reports of suspicious activity in the area.

“It would appear from initial indications that the substance originated from outside the state,” read the statement, adding that its officials were confident they would identify the source.

The NDEA says it believes that heroin is fast becoming the drug of choice in Seychelles, noting that seizures of heroin have surpassed any other illegal narcotic, including cannabis.

During the month of September alone, more than one hundred arrests were made by the NDEA for drug-related offences, thirty-four for suspected heroin possession and eighteen for cannabis.

In October, the NDEA reported that a total of 75.5 kilograms of different types of drugs had been seized since the beginning of the year, significantly surpassing the amount of narcotics seized the previous year.

Today’s seizure follows two other recent arrests of young men reportedly found in possession of smaller amounts of heroin.

On November 3, a 19-year-old casual labourer was arrested in Anse Aux Pins on the eastern side of the island after he was allegedly found with around 5 grams of the substance. Another arrest was made on November 5 when an 18-year-old was found in possession of 3.5 grams on the third largest inhabited island of La Digue.