French authorities said on Saturday they had seized 2.4 tonnes of cocaine from a vessel in the Pacific during a joint operation with the United States, as interceptions increase in Polynesian waters.
The 100 bales of cocaine were seized on Thursday. The vessel was subsequently allowed to continue to its destination, which officials did not disclose.
“In accordance with practices applicable under international law… the vessel and its crew resumed their voyage,” the High Commission of the French Republic in French Polynesia said in a statement.
The authorities added that the operation was conducted with “the cooperation of US government agencies” but did not specify the ship’s flag state or its port of origin.
Over the past month, French authorities have seized nearly 12 tonnes of cocaine in the Polynesian region, including three consignments ranging between two and five tonnes each.
The United Nations has warned in recent years that organised criminal networks trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine have expanded their operations across the Pacific. According to the UN, large quantities of narcotics are transported from North and South America to supply markets in Australia and New Zealand.
In 2025, the French Navy seized a record 87.6 tonnes of drugs worldwide, including 58 tonnes of cocaine.
