French Polynesia Cocaine Seizures: 12 Tonnes Hauled in Drug Bust

French authorities have intercepted nearly 12 tonnes of cocaine in waters around French Polynesia over the past month, including three separate seizures ranging from two to five tonnes each, according to Agence France-Presse.

The seizures highlight a growing trend of drug trafficking through the Pacific Ocean, a region increasingly utilized by organized criminal groups to transport illicit substances, particularly cocaine and methamphetamine, according to the United Nations. These drugs are largely destined for markets in Australia and New Zealand, the UN has reported in recent years.

The French Navy’s efforts to combat drug trafficking yielded a record 87.6 tonnes of drugs seized worldwide in 2025, with 58 tonnes of that total consisting of cocaine. This figure underscores France’s commitment to international counter-narcotics operations, particularly within its maritime zones.

The dialogue between France and French Polynesia regarding governance and autonomy is ongoing, direct, and without the involvement of the United Nations, stated Jérôme Bonnafont, France’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, during a Fourth Committee of the General Assembly session on October 7, 2025. Bonnafont emphasized France’s respect for the aspirations of the Polynesian people and the trust-based relationship with Polynesian President Moetai Brotherson and his predecessors.

In a separate development, the French National Assembly recently published a report on February 6, 2026, outlining the establishment of a United Nations University Ocean Institute in Brest, France, and an operational unit in French Polynesia. The report highlights the need for academic and financial partnerships to support the institute’s long-term sustainability and its role in serving French maritime spaces.

French Polynesia, previously listed by the United Nations as a Non-Self-Governing Territory from 1946 to 1947, continues to enjoy broad autonomy within the French Republic, based on its constitution. This autonomy grants the territory competences in key areas such as economy, education, health, tourism, labor, and culture.