Seychelles broadens cannabis-growing and drug-search rules

Seychelles broadened its cannabis-growing prohibition and the powers used to investigate drug offences in 1982. The amendment covered every plant in the cannabis genus and set out extensive search, seizure and arrest powers for police, customs and immigration officers. Its reach extended from arriving travellers to people inside suspected drug premises.^[1]

A wider definition of the plant

The existing cultivation offence referred to the female plant known as Cannabis sativa. Parliament replaced that description with a rule covering any plant of the genus Cannabis. A growing offence could therefore cover plants outside the earlier wording, including male plants.^[1]

The change amended the older Dangerous Drugs Act. Earlier legislation had already developed separate controls for cannabis products: the 1949 amendment added preparations made from Indian-hemp extract or tincture, except those capable of external use only. Plant cultivation and prepared products were addressed through different parts of the drug law.^[1][2]

At the border and inside a home

Officers could search ships and aircraft arriving in Seychelles, people arriving or about to depart, and goods being imported or exported. For other vehicles and premises, the law specified a reason to suspect that something liable to seizure was present. That category included drugs, property liable to forfeiture and evidence of an offence.^[1]

The Commissioner of Police could authorise holding a ship for up to twelve hours or an aircraft for six while it was searched. A minister could authorise further periods. The law also allowed entry through locked doors, boarding by force and removal of obstructions when officers exercised the search powers.^[1]

People could be held during a search

Officers could detain people found inside premises being searched, or aboard a vessel or vehicle, until the search was completed. Police authorised in writing could uproot and destroy plants covered by the cultivation offence.^[1]

The amendment also included limits on personal searches: women had to be searched by women, and anyone who objected to being searched in public could require a different setting. Arrest without a warrant required reasonable grounds to suspect an offence under the Act.^[1]

The law continued to develop

The People’s Assembly passed the amendment in June 1982, and President France-Albert René assented that month.^[1] It formed part of the older regime before the replacement drug law commenced in 1995.^[3] The Seychelles profile follows the later laws governing cannabis today.