The government of Seychelles, a country of tropical islands in East Africa, says that nearly 10% of the local population is dependent on heroin, which has now taken the form of an epidemic. Even drug addicts who are under the sentence of imprisonment do not show any difference in their reliance on drugs. BBC Africa Eye has gained rare access to a central jail to witness the consequences of this issue, which is rapidly taking the country under its grip.
Located on a mountain peak overlooking the beautiful views of the Indian Ocean, Montagne Posée prison in Seychelles has important facilities for rehabilitating drug addicts.
Seychelles is a country full of contradictions, but still, it is difficult to reconcile what is present with the captivating views. At the entrance gate of this place, where prisoners are kept, after passing through multiple locked doors and miles of barbed wire, there is a four-meter-high mural of Nelson Mandela on the block office wall.
With the smiling face of South Africa's former president and himself a former prisoner, there is a quote that reads, "No one truly knows a nation until one has been inside its jails."
To a great extent, this is true, and the prison bears witness to the fact that Seychelles is moving beyond its luxury Five Star branding.
Here we meet a prisoner, Joud Jean, but the BBC team is the first to penetrate this place's confines to cover the topic of drug addiction that is plaguing the Seychelles.
Corruption, Drugs, and Jail: Even President Viyol Ramkalawan admits that the prison is unsuitable for this purpose. He told the BBC from the State House Victoria: 'When there is such turmoil, it becomes a center for officers' misconduct.' He further said that they are planning to build a new prison.
They acknowledge that 'the situation of drugs is very bad.'
'As far as the problem of heroin addiction is concerned, Seychelles is number one in the world. And this is not a figure that gives me personal pleasure.'
Today is the day for meetings in jail, and Joud, who is accused of theft, is waiting for his mother.
The meeting room is outside, which is a concrete courtyard surrounded by plastic furniture with wire mesh.
Joud is cute, passionate, friendly, trustworthy, and respectful. He is also addicted to drugs.
He told us: 'I feel ashamed to say this, but you know, I am also addicted to it. And it's not easy.'
Now, as he sits in his seat, his eyelids are heavy. Despite being in jail, he has been successful in arranging his heroin this morning and has also taken some.
Joud has been in and out of jail for more than a decade, mostly for theft, but also because of his addiction to drugs.His mother Ravinia suffered another terrible tragedy as well.
She is a round lady. Their smile lights up a room and their laugh is full of liveliness.
They have worked hard to raise their four children and give them a good life. And for that she has been running a fast food outlet.
But heroin took all that away from him.
In 2011, Ravinia's eldest son Tony was found hanging from a noose. His death remains a mystery to this day, but Tony was heavily addicted to heroin and his death must have had something to do with it. The mother cannot believe that her son took his own life.
When they started talking about it, it was as if they were looking a million miles away and their faces showed sadness and confusion.
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