French naval forces seized over four tonnes of cocaine from a ship intercepted in the South Pacific, officials said Wednesday.
French naval forces have confiscated more than four tonnes of cocaine from a ship crossing the South Pacific en route to South Africa, authorities announced on Wednesday. The narcotics were destroyed, and the vessel and its crew were released in accordance with international law.
Officials said the navy seized around 4.25 tonnes of cocaine from a Central American vessel intercepted near French Polynesia. The ship was believed to be heading towards South Africa, according to France’s high commission in the territory.
The drugs were disposed of at sea, outside both the Polynesian exclusive economic zone and protected marine areas. Prosecutors chose not to pursue charges, citing concerns about placing the burden of an international trafficking case on local courts, as the shipment was not intended for French Polynesia.
Following the operation, the vessel and its crew were allowed to continue their journey under international maritime rules.
The seizure follows another major bust last month, when French forces recovered nearly five tonnes of cocaine from a fishing boat near French Polynesia, reportedly destined for Australia.
The United Nations has warned that organised criminal networks involved in cocaine and methamphetamine trafficking have increasingly expanded into the Pacific region. Large quantities of drugs are shipped from North and South America to supply markets in Australia and New Zealand.
While French Polynesia sits along these major maritime routes and faces serious methamphetamine use domestically, its population of roughly 280,000 means it is not a primary destination for large-scale drug trafficking operations.
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