Latest news with #Nouméa
RNZ News
01-07-2025
- RNZ News
Record 2.5 tonnes of cocaine seized off New Caledonia on Panama-flagged vessel bound for Australia
French customs officers board a ship as part of anti-drug traffic operation. Photo: Supplied / Douane France A record 2.5 tonnes of cocaine were seized last week off New Caledonia, the French High Commission in New Caledonia said on Thursday. The operation was conducted on 25 June by the Nouméa-based French Navy overseas patrol vessel Auguste Bennebig , some 400 nautical miles off Nouméa, with aerial support from a reconnaissance "Gardian" Falcon Jet from the French Navy. Approximately 2.5 tonnes of cocaine were found in the Panama-flagged vessel named SM Dante , which had left Peru in May and was headed to Australia. The drugs were packed in about fifty individual bags, New Caledonia's public prosecutor Yves Dupas said in a news release. Nouméa-based French Navy Overseas patrol vessel Auguste Bennebig. Photo: supplied Investigators believe the drug shipment was prepared to be despatched aboard small outboard vessels near the target coasts of Australia, following a well-established scenario known as "rip-off". Aboard the ship were seven crew members, from Portugal (2) and Ecuador (5). They have been remanded in custody in New Caledonia for investigative purposes. French authorities say that since 2012, they have intercepted six vessels transporting drugs and narcotics, mainly cocaine. However, the latest operation beats the previous records of 578kg of cocaine seized in October 2017 and 750kg in August 2013 on ships travelling from Panama to Australia, as well as two captures of 1.4 tonnes on the same route in February and July 2017. French Polynesia customs officers seized 500 Kg of cocaine aboard a ship as part of anti-drug traffic operation. Photo: Supplied / Douane France In mid-June 2025, French authorities in New Caledonia and French Polynesia said they had seized a total of over 500kg of cocaine in April and May 2025, including 67kg for New Caledonia alone. They said those operations were mostly conducted in collaboration and based on intelligence-sharing with regional forces such as Australia's Border Force, New Zealand Customs and the United States Homeland Security Investigations. "In terms of cocaine consumption, the US market is now saturated. That's why traffickers are searching for new markets, Europe and, in the Pacific region, Australia and New Zealand", New Caledonia's Divisional Head of Customs Hervé Matho told local media. Recently, in New Caledonia, a cocaine distribution network was identified and stopped between the capital Nouméa and the Isle of Pines. About ten people were arrested for dealing what they say they found "drifting" bags that had washed ashore on their small island: over 42kg of cocaine. They are to appear before a local Court on 22 July 2025. The "find" was said to have taken place sometime in August 2024. A strangely similar case of "drifting" drugs took place recently on Norfolk Island, late May 2025, where a 40kg package containing cocaine also washed up on a beach, where it was later found by tourists. In June 2025, a report delivered to New Zealand's Associate Police Minister Casey Costello sent a strong warning signal that the Pacific Islands were seriously targeted by transnational organised crime , whose operators are using its waters as a "corridor" for drug shipments between production and consumption bases.
RNZ News
12-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
Téin released from French jail after appeal fails
New Caledonia's CCAT leader Christian Téin speaks during a press conference held at Union Calédonienne headquarters in Nouméa. Photo: RRB A Court of Appeal in Paris on Thursday ruled for the release of Kanak pro-independence leader Christian Téin from custody, almost one year after his arrest in New Caledonia. His release conditions include regular judicial summons and residing at his partner's residence, in north-eastern France, which is also a region where he spent the past twelve months in jail, pending his trial. In an earlier ruling on 3 June, the three magistrates, after interviewing Téin on 27 May, found there were insufficient grounds to keep him in custody. Their initial ruling, which was upheld on Thursday after appeal, was that the Kanak leader should be released from jail, but that he should be kept under judicial supervision and prevented from returning to New Caledonia or interfering with persons related to the case. This was appealed by the public prosecution . Téin, 57, is the head of a Field Action Coordinating Cell (CCAT), a group created late 2023 by New Caledonia's largest and oldest pro-independence party Union Calédonienne. Reacting to the latest ruling, one of Téin's defence lawyers said this was "a first victory, but the battle goes on". The same ruling of "release under judicial control" also applied to four other militants who also spent the past twelve months in several prisons in mainland France. Since his arrest in June 2024 and his transfer (with others) by plane from New Caledonia to mainland France, Téin has been jailed in Mulhouse. In late August 2024, Téin, from his Mulhouse jail, was also nominated, in absentia, president of the pro-independence Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), of which the Union Calédonienne party is a dominant member. In January 2025, the case, initially investigated out of Nouméa, was removed from the former investigating judges in Nouméa and transferred to a panel of three Paris judges. On 30 May, another person part of the group that was transferred to France in June 2024 was allowed to return home to New Caledonia - Frédérique Muliava, a former Congress staffer . French president Emmanuel Macron confirmed he would host fresh political talks to foster a comprehensive agreement between all tendencies (pro-independence and pro-France) of New Caledonia's political spectrum. Photo: Screenshot Présidence de la République française Speaking to Pacific leaders earlier this week in Nice, France , at a 'Pacific-France' summit on the margins of the UN Oceans conference, Macron said he would host the New Caledonian talks in Paris, in the "coming weeks". Macron said this fresh roundtable was part of efforts to come up with "a new project". He told Pacific leaders building a political solution for New Caledonia was still work in progress "with a lot of humility, together."
RNZ News
08-06-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
French court postpones release of Kanak leader following appeal
Christian Téin Photo: LNC A Parisian appellate court has delayed the release of New Caledonia's Kanak pro-independence leader, Christian Téin, from custody following an appeal by prosecutors. Téin, 57, is the head of a Field Action Coordinating Cell (CCAT), a group created late 2023 by New Caledonia's largest and oldest pro-independence party Union Calédonienne. From October 2023 onward, the CCAT organised a series of marches and demonstrations that later degenerated (starting 13 May 2024) into months of civil unrest, arson and looting, causing 14 dead and an estimated €2.2 billion in material damage, mainly in the Greater Nouméa area. Since his arrest in June 2024 and his transfer (with others) by plane from New Caledonia to mainland France, Téin has been jailed in Mulhouse (north-eastern France). Late August 2024, Téin, from his Mulhouse jail, was also nominated, in absentia, president of the pro-independence Kanak and Socialist National Liberation Front (FLNKS), of which the Union Calédonienne party is a dominant member. In January 2025, the case, initially investigated out of Nouméa, was removed from the former investigating judges in Nouméa and transferred to a panel of three Paris judges. Téin's lawyers said they welcomed the "new approach" by the Paris judges. In a ruling last week, three magistrates found that following Téin's latest hearing, on 27 May 2025, found no sufficient grounds to keep him in custody. They decided that the Kanak leader should be released from jail, but that he should be kept under judicial supervision and prevented from returning to New Caledonia or interfering with persons related to the case. In response, the prosecution immediately appealed the ruling. The Parisian Appellate Court will now hear the case on 12 June. Nicolas Metzdorf Photo: LNC Reacting to the latest ruling to postpone hearings until 12 June, one prominent and anti-independence leader in New Caledonia, Nicolas Metzdorf (who is also an MP for New Caledonia at the French National Assembly), said he was concerned that Téin's "untimely" release could "upset the balances" of political talks currently underway to find a consensus between all political parties regarding New Caledonia's future. "I think what we need above all is serenity, calm and people who are willing to build," Metzdorf told public broadcaster Nouvelle-Calédonie La Première on Friday. French President Emmanuel Macron Photo: AFP / POOL / JEANNE ACCORSINI The talks between all New Caledonia's political groupings, both pro-France and pro-independence, resumed early 2025, fostered by French minister for overseas Emmanuel Valls. Even though Valls managed to bring back all sides to the same political table, the talks once again stalled on 8 May, after an attempted "conclave" in New Caledonia. This was mainly because prominent anti-independence parties strongly objected to Valls' proposal to introduce a "sovereignty with France", including the transfer of key powers from Paris to Nouméa, a dual Kanak/French citizenship and an international standing. Since then, French President Emmanuel Macron has announced his intention to convene all parties once again, this time in Paris in early July, for fresh talks. On 30 May, one of the pro-independence leaders who was also transferred to France last year, could return home to New Caledonia. Frédérique Muliava , a former Congress staffer, was part of a group of six who were charged in relation to the May 2024 riots. Under her new judicial requirements, set out by the judge in charge of the case, Muliava, once she returns to New Caledonia, is allowed to return to work, but is not to make any contact with other individuals related to her case and not to take part in any public demonstration.
RNZ News
03-06-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Former Congress staffer allowed to return to New Caledonia
A woman in Paris carries a placard with the text '170 years of French colonisation is enough. Independence for New Caledonia and support for the Kanak people'. Photo: AFP / Eric Broncard/Hans Lucas One of seven people transferred to mainland France almost a year ago, following the May 2024 riots in New Caledonia, has been allowed to return home, a French court has ruled. Frédérique Muliava, a former Congress staffer, was part of a group of six who were charged in relation to the May 2024 riots. Under her new judicial requirements, set out by the judge in charge of the case, Muliava, once she returns to New Caledonia, is allowed to return to work, but is not to make any contact with other individuals related to her case and not to take part in any public demonstration. Four days after their arrest in Nouméa in June 2024, Muliava and six others were transferred to mainland France aboard a specially-chartered plane. They were charged with criminal-related offences (including being a party or being accomplice to murder attempts and thefts involving the use of weapons) and have since been remanded in several prisons pending their trial. In January 2025, the whole case was removed from the jurisdiction of New Caledonia-based judges and has since been transferred back to investigating judges in mainland France.
RNZ News
20-05-2025
- Politics
- RNZ News
New Caledonia's political future 'not a Pacific problem' - 'It's our own', says Ponga
The president of the government of New Caledonia says that "meddling in our domestic political affairs" is not welcome. Speaking to RNZ Pacific from Nouméa on the one-year anniversary of last year's deadly civil unrest , Alcide Ponga said he wanted to remind Pacific leaders that the ongoing political situation is a matter between France and the people of its overseas Pacific territory. He emphasised the importance of New Caledonia maintaining a relationship with the whole region, particularly in areas such as the economy, culture and politics. "However, I do not have [an] objective to come and criticise the politics in New Zealand. Please don't criticise what happened in New Caledonia between the Caledonian people and France," he said. "It's our own problem. It's not a Pacific problem." Alcide Ponga, President of the 18th government of New Caledonia, speaks to the media following his election by members of the government, in France's Pacific territory of New Caledonia in Noumea on 8 January 2025. Photo: AFP / Delphine Mayeur He cited the Cook Islands' recent engagements with China as an example of why the French territory needs to maintain its ties with Paris. The Cook Islands, a self-governing nation in "free association" with New Zealand, signed a comprehensive strategic agreement with Beijing, including a five-year agreement for seabed mineral exploration and research. The move sparked a diplomatic dispute between Avarua and Wellington, putting a spotlight on constitutional tensions between the two nations. France's Overseas Minister Manuel Valls has suggested a resolution - similar to the Cook Islands' relationship with New Zealand - for New Caledonia to have "independence-association" with France . The proposal raised the hopes of pro-independence groups, but talks collapsed after the political stakeholders could not agree to a deal. French Minister for Overseas Manuel Valls, left, and New Caledonia President Alcide Ponga sign loan for €1 billion. 29 March 2025. Photo: Gouvernement de la Nouvelle-Calédonie Ponga believes China's influence is the "main risk" to New Caledonia if Valls's proposal goes ahead. "You know, New Zealand and Cook Islands, maybe Cook Island is not independent, but the Cook Islands decided to discuss with China," Ponga said. "It is the main risk for us if we are going ahead in the association or partnership [arrangement with France]. If you want to put in place partnership or association with friends, you have to be independent." Addressing the issue of independence from France, he said: "It's not an obligation to become independent," adding that "for me, you have a lot of option" on the issue of decolonisation. Ponga said New Caledonians voted three times - referring to the independence referendums in 2018, 2020 and 2021 (boycotted by the majority of the Kanak population) - to remain with France. He said the "democratic choice" of the people must be respected. "The main objective is to make the Kanak people free in their decolonisation, for me, it's in the mind." "'I'm Kanak. I don't think I'm a colonised guy. I'm free in my mind. "I know that we have to maybe pursue the process to make all [Kanak] population think that we are not colonised by France. "But majority of Caledonian people don't want to become independent." Riot damages in Nouméa's Ducos industrial zone - Photo LNC Photo: LNC Unrest erupted in New Caledonia on 13 May 2024, triggered by a proposed change to the local government electoral roll to allow more non-indigenous people to vote, which pro-independence groups feared would dilute the political power of the indigenous Kanak population. The riots and unrest which dragged on for months resulted in 14 deaths and €2.2 billion in damages to the economy. Twelve months on, the violence has been brought under control, but there is still no solution in sight for the French territory's political future Ponga, an anti-independence politician who came into power in January, said it is time for everyone to "roll their sleeves up" and build back New Caledonia's economy. His aim, he said, is to try and help to create safe New Caledonia and avoid it from descending into the sight of another civil unrest. He said he has big issues to tackle in "a very short time" in office but he knows where to start. "I arrived here in January, and maybe I will push out from here in November [when the local government elections are scheduled]. "The first thing we have to do is to create the economic environment to rebuild, to restart the machine, to try to push the mining operation to come back, and to bring [employment] for all Caledonian people. "To ensure that if we don't find agreement, to make sure that we don't dispute and create the trouble [for] our population "Go ahead slowly but surely, and to find one good way for everybody." Charles Wea Photo: Supplied/Mathurin Durel An advisor to Louis Mapou, Ponga's predecessor, told RNZ Pacific that the question of New Caledonia's political future has regional implications. "The Pacific Island Forum (PIF) countries need to continue to support New Caledonia to become fully sovereign," Charles Wea, who is a member of UNI - PALIKA (Party of Kanak Liberation), said, which is a fundamentally different position to Ponga. He said this was the request from Forum member countries, as well as the Melanesian Spearhead Group. "The stability of New Caledonia will also impact the stability for the region," Wea said. "We are happy that a different French government now is taking another step to serve New Caledonia into the process of decolonisation. He said the French government proposed "full sovereignty with partnership with France" during the political talks. "However, the loyalists (anti-independence parties) say that New Caledonia cannot become independent because of the three referendums," Wea said. But Ponga, the president of Le Rassemblement (The Rally), said a fourth referendum "is not logical" and made it clear that he will not support another referendum. "The cycle is finished. Now [it is] our responsibility - pro- and anti-independence parties and the French State - to find to find the good way for everybody," he said. "This position of UNI has come on the table because we, all together, didn't reach our objective to find an agreement. "The French minister arrived here and propose [to] us whatever you call this form of independence, association or partnership, it's independence. Melanesian Spearhead Group flags Photo: RNZ Pacific / Kelvin Anthony Pacific leaders have already expressed their views on New Caledonia and the Kanak peoples aspirations for full sovereignty from France. "Politically and morally we support the independence of New Caledonia," former Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai told RNZ Pacific previously. Tuvalu MP Simon Kofe said, "We need to continue to support the decolonisation of the Pacific." While Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, who spoke with RNZ Pacific the day before heading to New Caledonia as part of the Pacific Islands Forum mission, said, "Don't slap the hand that has fed you." "Have a good disassociation arrangement when you become independent, make sure you part as friends." In Japan last year, New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters said, "Pacific Islands Forum countries by virtue of our locations and histories understand the large indigenous minority population's desire for self-determination. "We also deeply respect and appreciate France's role in the region and understand France's desire to walk together with New Caledonians towards a prosperous and secure future."
