According to Mr. Boolell, the challenges posed by piracy problems in the Indian Ocean cannot be understated. Piracy has become an organised, lucrative and attractive criminal activity with growing regional implications, he said.  The entire region, he added, has not only suffered from the negative economic effects of piracy but has also witnessed an increase in the associated crimes of money laundering and trafficking of weapons and migrants.

The resource persons of the working session were representatives from the UNODC, namely Mr. Paul Vos, Police Adviser to the Counter Piracy Programme UNODC and Lieutenant Ceri Marsh of the Royal Navy, Legal Adviser to Eunavfor.

Participants were, amongst others, representatives of the Office of the Chief Justice, the Solicitor General’s Office, the Mauritius Police Force, and the Prime Minister’s Office. 

According to the report submitted, on 24 January 2011, by Mr.Jack Lang, Special Adviser to the UN on Legal issues related to piracy, pirates have taken 1 900 people and 105 vessels hostage in the last two years.