Armed forces in Polynesia intercepted 550 kg of cocaine in a fishing vessel on December 23, south of the capital. 14 people from South America will be presented before the judicial authority in Papeete.
Mereini Gamblin, Heidi Yieng Kow and Heiarii Tahiata with press release
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Published on December 28, 2024 at 12:02 p.m.,
updated December 28, 2024 at 12:19 p.m.
The high commission announced this Saturday a record seizure of cocaine just before Christmas. On December 23, the Bougainville, a support and assistance vessel for the armed forces in Polynesia, discovered 550 kg of cocaine during a check on a fishing vessel, in the south of the country, approximately 1,300 kilometers from Papeete, in the surroundings of our exclusive economic zone (EEZ).
A sample test confirmed that the suspicious bundles found on site did indeed contain cocaine. Following the search, the crew of the fishing vessel was detained on board the Bougainville. 14 people from South America will be presented before the judicial authority in Papeete.
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©Heidi Yieng Kow / Polynesia First
The operation was carried out under the authority of the High Commissioner of the Republic in Polynesia, government delegate for State action at sea. In addition to inter-service cooperation between the national gendarmerie and the armies, this success was also relies on the basis of information exchanged with the Australian Federal Police, the national gendarmerie and the anti-narcotics office (OFAST).
The ship, its crew and its cargo were brought back to Papeete, in order to hand them over to the competent judicial authorities.
