French Navy Seizes Over 4 Tonnes of Cocaine in Pacific, Intercepts Drug Boat in Caribbean

France’s navy has seized more than four tonnes of cocaine from a ship in the south Pacific and stopped another boat carrying drugs in the Caribbean, officials said.

The Pacific vessel, coming from Central America and believed to be heading to South Africa, was intercepted near French Polynesia.

The 4.24 tonnes of cocaine on board were destroyed at sea, away from the Polynesian economic zone and protected marine areas, according to the territory’s high commission.

Polynésie française | Importante saisie de cocaïne en haute mer

Interception d’un navire suspect et contrôle à bord par la @MarineNationale, menant à la découverte de 174 ballots de drogue.

4.24 tonnes de cocaïne saisies et poursuite du processus judiciaire par les… https://t.co/uHauPNHrys pic.twitter.com/VtVhaWq8af

— Armée française – Opérations militaires (@EtatMajorFR) February 5, 2026

Armed forces minister Catherine Vautrin shared images of the operation on social media, showing aerial views of the interception and the drugs aboard a French naval ship.

She said the operation showed the navy’s professionalism and vigilance in fighting a global drug trafficking network.

Je salue une fois de plus l’engagement de la Marine nationale qui a permis une saisie de 4.24 tonnes de cocaïne le 2 février au large de la Polynésie française.
Vigilance et professionnalisme pour entraver un trafic mondialisé.
Aux côtés des autres services de l’Etat, les… https://t.co/avK7bdPT84 pic.twitter.com/0lqdpNnia0

— Catherine Vautrin (@CaVautrin) February 5, 2026

In the Caribbean, a boat carrying 678 kilograms of cocaine was intercepted and handed over to the Barbadian authorities.

The high commission said the Pacific vessel and its crew were released under international law.

The local prosecutor did not press charges, noting that the drugs were not meant for French Polynesia and the case should not burden local courts.

Last month, the navy seized almost five tonnes of cocaine from a fishing vessel near French Polynesia, reportedly destined for Australia.

The United Nations has said organised crime groups trafficking cocaine and methamphetamine are expanding in the Pacific.

Large quantities of drugs are transported from North and South America to Australia and New Zealand.

French Polynesia lies along these routes and has significant methamphetamine use, though its small population of around 280,000 has spared it from becoming a major target for large-scale trafficking.

References: CBS News, France24

Source: Maritime Shipping News