French Navy seizes 2.4 tons of cocaine off French Polynesia

The French Navy intercepted and seized 2.4 tons of cocaine from vessels in the open sea off French Polynesia on Thursday, February 12, 2026. This operation was conducted with the support of military aircraft and in coordination with United States government agencies, the French Gendarmerie, and the anti-drug office OFAST. The shipment, consisting of approximately 100 bundles, was destined for markets in New Zealand and Australia rather than local consumption. This latest seizure brings the total amount of drugs confiscated in Polynesian waters to nearly 12 tons within a single month. According to official reports, the narcotics originated from production sites in Latin America. Following standard procedure for recent operations, the seized drugs were destroyed at sea. This mission highlights ongoing international efforts to combat large-scale drug trafficking in the South Pacific.