Latest news with #drughaul
RNZ News
03-08-2025
- RNZ News
Massive cocaine and meth haul seized on yacht in French Polynesia worth €331 million
Seized drugs onboard include 232kg of methamphetamine and 1,646kg of cocaine. Photo: Comgend Polynésie française OFAST Authorities in French Polynesia are claiming another "historic" drug haul for a total €331 million street value. The catch initially took place on 14 July in Nuku Hiva (Marquesas Islands, about 1,400km North of Tahiti), aboard a transiting sailboat travelling from Mexico and believed to be headed to Australia via the Kingdom of Tonga. What authorities immediately found was 900kg of cocaine and 180kg of methamphetamines. But the seized yacht, under French Navy and gendarmerie escort, was since repatriated to the main island of Tahiti and the capital Pape'ete, where it was completely searched and dismantled. This resulted in the discovery, with assistance from sniffer dog units, of a further 714.1kg of cocaine and 49.8kg of methamphetamines concealed in the boat's structure, bringing the final count to 1,646.8kg of cocaine and 232.4kg of methamphetamines. The seized ship also contained 11 Glock pistols and 22 bullet ammunition magazines. Photo: Comgend Polynésie française OFAST In addition to the narcotics, 11 Glock semi‑automatic pistols and 24 ammunition magazines were also found. French Home Affairs Minister Bruno Retailleau described the haul as a first in French Polynesia's history. He hailed participating law enforcement agencies (French customs, anti-narcotics unit "OFAST" and gendarmerie) The three men onboard (a German skipper and two Dutch nationals), remain in custody, local Public Prosecutor Solène Belaouar said in a statement at the weekend. "This shipment was not for French Polynesia", head of French Polynesia's Customs Serge Puccetti told local media. He said intelligence shared between French authorities and regional law enforcement agencies such as the US, Australia and New Zealand has now clearly established the Pacific as a major transit area between narcotic-production from South America and one of its major new markets, Australia. In terms of trans-national organised traffic, "Currently, we have a Polynesian connection, the Americans are working on an American connection which itself is linked to this Polynesian network. So we are working on what we call 'mirror' investigations. We establish connections, we share a lot of intelligence", Puccetti said. He said narco-traffic in the Pacific, just like elsewhere (Europe, Africa, Atlantic ocean), was now multi-faceted and implied all kinds of transport modes: by air, sea, onboard containers, sailboats. "On each of these vectors, we are vigilant", he said. French Polynesia's five archipelagos are widespread over a surface of some 5.5 millions square kilometres, an area equivalent to that of the whole European continent. The largest drugs catch in French Polynesia, until now, was on Christmas Eve 2004, when 524kg of cocaine were seized aboard a Spanish-flagged vessel with 14 crew members from Columbia and Ecuador onboard. In March 2019, another Papeete-based French Navy vessel, Prairial, in collaboration with the US Joint Interagency Task Force - South intercepted a fishing vessel off the coast of Nicaragua with 766kg of cocaine on board. In February 2025, in the face of an increasing presence and consumption of methamphetamines (dubbed "ice") in French Polynesia now affecting "one in ten" inhabitants, President Moetai Brotherson sounded the alarm bell and called for urgent assistance from France, saying the issue now required to be made a matter of "national priority". In July 2025, French Polynesia's Territorial Assembly (parliament) unanimously backed a motion to support stronger measures to fight against the addictive drug, with an available budget of around two million Euros. Another narcotics-related project currently mooted would be to set up a sniffer dogs training centre, with French assistance. The ship contained 1,878kg of narcotics, including 232kg of methamphetamine and 1,646kg of cocaine. Photo: Comgend Polynésie française OFAST French Polynesia, as well as other Pacific countries and territories (Samoa, Fiji, Tonga), has been identified as a major transit point of the so-called "Drugs Highway" from North and South America (the United States, Mexico, Columbia, Ecuador, Panama) to major markets such as Australia, New Zealand and Asia. In the other direction, labs in South-east Asia are also using Pacific islands such as Palau or Papua New Guinea as transit points to ship opium-based and methamphetamines to the US market. In June 2025, a record 2.5 tonnes of cocaine were seized off New Caledonia. 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. 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). 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. In mid-June 2025, authorities in New Caledonia and French Polynesia jointly claimed a cumulated catch score 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, albeit atypical, 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. The "find" was said to have taken place sometime in August 2024. In a strangely similar case of "drifting" drugs, on Norfolk Island, late May 2025, 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 centres.
Yahoo
27-07-2025
- Yahoo
Woman stopped on M6 had '£370,000 of cannabis' and a child in her car, court hears
A WOMAN has appeared in court accused of a cannabis supply crime after a £370,000 drug haul was found in a vehicle as she travelled with a young child. Leonnie Anne Southgate, aged 34, faces one charge. This alleges that she was in possession of a controlled drug — cannabis resin — with intent to supply it to another. The charge has been brought following an incident on Wednesday this week, July 23. Police had stopped a vehicle, which had been travelling southbound on the M6, at Southwaite services. Prosecutor Diane Jackson told Carlisle Magistrates' Court this morning (Friday): 'In her vehicle was found to be £370,000 worth of cannabis. There was a child in the vehicle also.' In total, 37 kilos of cannabis had been found in a Sports Direct bag for life in the boot of the vehicle. The child was aged two. Southgate did not formally enter a plea to the allegation at the request of a defence solicitor. After hearing brief details from the prosecutor, magistrates concluded that the case should be sent to Carlisle Crown Court. Southgate, of Silkstone Crescent, Buxton, is due to appear there in front of a judge, for a plea and trial preparation hearing, on August 22. In the meantime she has been remanded in custody after an application for bail by her solicitor was refused.
Irish Times
21-07-2025
- Irish Times
Man (46) appears in court over €1.6m drug haul in Wexford
A man (46) charged in connection with a €1.6 million drug haul in Co Wexford, appeared before a special sitting of Gorey District Court on Sunday afternoon. Fintan Fanning of Slaney Drive, Ballycarney, Enniscorthy, came before Judge Kevin Staunton charged with having in his possession a controlled drug, namely cannabis, for the purpose of sale or supply. Herbal cannabis worth an estimated €1.6 million was seized at Tincurry, Ballycarney, on Friday after a van was intercepted by gardaí following a targeted joint operation involving An Garda Síochána and Revenue's Customs Service on Friday. About 80kg of herbal cannabis was discovered during the van search, with an estimated street value of €1.6 million. READ MORE The accused was arrested at the scene and detained for questioning. Mr Fanning appeared in court wearing a grey tracksuit, with slight beard, and heavy tattooing around the neck area. The hearing lasted less than 10 minutes. Det Garda Dean Healy told Judge Stauntion that on July 19th he arrested the accused and charged him as set out on the charge sheet. The accused made 'no comment' when the charge was put to him, Det Healy said. Defence counsel, Craig Phillips, BL instructed by Eoin O'Sullivan, solicitor, said there would be no application for bail. He applied for free legal aid but no statement of means is yet available to the court. [ Woman with black eye and newborn baby claims husband 'kicked me and dragged me up and down' Opens in new window ] Sgt Stephen Ennis told the court he would be seeking a remand in custody for the accused, to appear before Wexford District Court on Tuesday via video link. Judge Staunton said he would grant free legal aid subject to a statement of means being made available to the court and remanded the accused in custody.
News.com.au
10-05-2025
- News.com.au
Five charged after tonne of cocaine found on NSW boat
Dramatic footage has been released showing the moment police raided a fishing boat off the NSW coast. Officers will allege they uncovered 1.1 tonnes of cocaine on-board the boat that was heading towards the port at South West Rocks at 9.40am on Friday. Police charged five men after intercepting a vessel off the NSW coast and seizing more than a tonne of cocaine, worth an estimated $623.4 million, in one of the state's biggest drug hauls. Organised Crime Squad detectives launched the investigation after receiving intelligence about a suspicious purchase of a 13m motor cruiser, with a large sum of cash in Sydney's Sutherland Shire on April 28. Police tracked the movements of the vessel and those allegedly involved, monitoring the group as they travelled north along the coast before heading back towards South West Rocks. On Friday morning, May 9, officers from the NSW Police Marine Area Command intercepted the vessel about 9.30am. Two men, aged 24 and 26, were arrested on board and taken to Coffs Harbour Police Station. Police allege the vessel was carrying about 1110 blocks of cocaine, weighing 1.039 tonnes. The drugs represent more than a million individual hits, with testing underway to confirm the exact weight and purity. At the same time, three more men, aged 28, 29 and 35, were arrested onshore after investigators stopped two vehicles attempting to leave the South West Rocks area. They were taken to Taree Police Station. Strike Force investigators and the AFP also executed search warrants at homes in Beresfield, Edgeworth, Belmont North, Cardiff South, and Catherine Hill Bay. Officers seized electronic devices, documents, clothing, communication devices and cash. The two men arrested on the boat were charged with supplying a prohibited drug, large commercial quantity and participating in a criminal group. The three men arrested onshore were charged with taking part in the supply of a prohibited drug, large commercial quantity and participating in a criminal group. All five appeared in Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday, May 10, where they were refused bail. They are due to reappear at Coffs Harbour Local Court on July 15. NSW Police State Crime Commander, Acting Assistant Commissioner Jason Weinstein, praised the co-ordinated police response, saying the arrests demonstrated how quickly officers could act to stop large quantities of drugs from reaching New South Wales. 'Whether on land or sea, NSW Police have the investigative capability to disrupt and undermine criminal enterprise,' Commissioner Weinstein said. He said the seizure was the result of ongoing monitoring of organised crime methods and effective collaboration with law enforcement partners. 'Make no mistake, these drugs, if allowed to enter our communities, would have had devastating impacts on people's lives and social cohesion, particularly in regional townships,' he said. 'The New South Wales Police Force is committed to protecting our citizens and are proud of the work being done to shut down and suppress organised crime and place those responsible before the courts.' AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Dametto said the success of the operation reflected the strong partnership between agencies and their ongoing mission to cripple criminal syndicates. 'The AFP and NSW Police Force have a long history of disrupting criminal networks attempting to import drugs that destroy our community,' Commissioner Dametto said. 'Combining our resources and expertise allows us to get successful outcomes like the one we are announcing today.' He said Australia's expansive coastline remained a key target for traffickers, but law enforcement agencies were continuing to strike back. 'The bad news for them is the AFP will continue to work together with our partners to target organised crime syndicates who wrongly believe they can operate with impunity,' he said. 'Importation of drugs via the sea is inherently dangerous, and criminals using this smuggling method risk both their freedom and their lives.' Investigations into the source of the cocaine and possible links to other organised crime groups are continuing.
