PAPEETE, France: France’s navy has intercepted a fishing vessel in the South Pacific, seizing 4.87 tonnes of cocaine believed to be bound for Australia, officials said on Monday.
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The vessel, which originated from Central America, was stopped on January 16. France’s High Commission in French Polynesia said the operation involved “significant human and material resources” from the French armed forces.
Authorities reported that the ship was sailing under Togo’s flag, with a crew consisting of 10 Hondurans and one Ecuadoran. French authorities will not prosecute the crew, but their respective home countries may pursue legal action.
A source close to the investigation confirmed that the cocaine was destined for the Australian market, highlighting the increasing role of the South Pacific in international drug trafficking routes.
#PartoutToutLeTemps | Lutte contre le narcotrafic : 4,87 tonnes de cocaïne saisies par la Marine nationale en zone maritime de Polynésie française https://t.co/sgCBfuYNYF pic.twitter.com/6vIx2GYDkf
— Haut-commissariat en Polynésie française (@HC_Polynesie987) January 20, 2026
The United Nations has warned in recent years that organised crime groups are expanding their operations in the Pacific, trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine from North and South America to Australia and New Zealand.
French Polynesian officials praised the operation as a major success in the fight against transnational drug trafficking, underlining the navy’s capacity to respond to high-risk maritime incidents.
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The interception comes amid growing international efforts to secure shipping lanes in the Pacific, which have become a hotspot for illicit narcotics smuggling. Experts say that the scale of the seizure underscores the sophistication and risk of contemporary drug trafficking networks operating in the region.