French Polynesia reported a record seizure of about 4.87 tonnes of cocaine in the Pacific Ocean, with the drugs believed to be bound for the Australian shores.
On Friday, January 16 a French Navy vessel intercepted a suspicious ship in the maritime area of French Polynesia. The inspection carried out on board led to the discovery of 96 bales containing a total of 4.87 tonnes of cocaine.
The seized cargo, hailing from Central America, was intercepted while in transit to the Southwest Pacific.
The cocaine was being transported on a ship and destined for the Australian market. It was not intended for the territory of French Polynesia, the high commissioner of the Republic in French Polynesia said in a statement last Monday, adding that their armed forces mobilized “significant human and material resources” for the operation.
Authorities released an image from the operation, showing a military helicopter hovering above a vessel with packages laid out on the deck.
“This record seizure is a successful outcome of the new territorial plan to combat narcotics,” the high commissioner said in a statement. “It illustrates the strategic nature of regional cooperation conducted by France with its closest partners, notably the United States and Australia, in the fight against drug trafficking.”
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) and Australian Border Force (ABF) have congratulated authorities in French Polynesia over the reported seizure of cocaine intercepted in the Pacific Ocean, with the drugs reportedly bound for Australian shores.
AFP Commander Stephen Jay commended the work of the authorities in French Polynesia and highlighted the AFP’s strong collaboration with its international partners through its members posted across the Pacific to combat the growing threat of organised crime.
“I would like to thank the exceptional work of our partners in French Polynesia, who have prevented a significant amount of illicit drugs from reaching Australia. AFP members posted in the Pacific and Taskforce Thunder members will seek to work collaboratively with authorities in French Polynesia in an attempt to identify persons in Australia who may be linked to this seizure,” Commander Jay said.
Australian Border Force Acting Commander Maritime Border Command Linda Cappello said Australia’s strongest defence against transnational organised crime was the depth of its relationships across the Pacific and beyond.
“The Australian Border Force congratulates the French authorities for their outstanding efforts in preventing these illicit drugs from reaching Australia and causing harm within our communities,” A/g Commander Cappello said.
“Through a sustained regional presence, shared awareness of emerging threats and long-standing partnerships with border and law enforcement agencies, criminal networks are increasingly detected and disrupted well before they can reach Australian shores.
“For those seeking to exploit maritime and supply chains to move illicit drugs the message is clear: coordinated vigilance across the region significantly increases the risk of detection and disruption.”
