A Tahitian cruise ship operator was arrested in Raiatea, an island in French Polynesia, in possession of 21 kg of methamphetamines worth more than 42 million euros for resale on the local market, the public prosecutor announced on Monday. .
The cruise ship he was traveling on was coming from Hawaii and calling at Uturoa, the port of Raiatea.
The 27-year-old passenger, unknown to the police, was arrested on Thursday with 4.6 kg of methamphetamines.
The search of his other suitcases, in the cabin, enabled the border police to seize 21 kg in total.
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In French Polynesia, a gram of this drug sells for more than 2,000 euros, while it is negotiated
"5 to 6 dollars per gram"
in Mexico, detailed the public prosecutor, Hervé Leroy, during a conference of hurry.
"This person was recruited as a mule, the drugs were delivered to Los Angeles and transported by boat
," he said.
Hervé Leroy estimated that there were
"10,000 to 12,000 regular users"
of methamphetamines in French Polynesia, which has 280,000 inhabitants.
According to him, around a hundred kilos of methamphetamines are consumed in Polynesia each year, which
“harms society, destabilizes it and undermines the integrity of Polynesians”
.