Crimes of opportunity and petty crime, such as pickpocketing and purse snatching occur frequently.
Thieves target foreigners particularly in the capital Mamoudzou and in crowded public areas such as markets, restaurants, cafes, tourist sites and attractions.
Take care when going ashore on the mainland at night. Ensure all your belongings are secure at all times and don't carry large sums of money or wear expensive jewellery.
It would be wise to take the usual precautions to protect your dinghy and outboard and to secure the boat against intruders.
Pirate attacks and armed robbery against ships has occurred in coastal waters and in some cases farther out at sea. Attacks in the Indian Ocean cannot be ruled out.
Check the International Maritime Bureau's Piracy Reporting Centre for the latest information.
https://sarcontacts.info/ - SAR contacts for any area or country by lat/long, keyword, or country.
Noonsite has in the past received more than one report about the increase of crime and violence on the mainland and how this is affecting visiting yachts. However, there have been no reports in the last few years.
For a summary list of previous reports, see here
Last updated: September 2025
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