Latest news with #YvesDupas
Sky News AU
02-07-2025
- Sky News AU
More than two tonnes of cocaine worth $800 million bound for Australia seized off coast of New Caledonia last month
A New Caledonia-based French Navy operation has discovered an enormous amount of cocaine onboard a vessel bound for Australia, with approximately 2.5 tonnes of the drug, worth about $800 million, seized. New Zealand broadcaster RNZ has reported the French High Commission in New Caledonia confirmed the find following on operation undertaken on June 25. A vessel that departed Peru in May, and had been travelling to Australia, was discovered to be carrying about 2.5 tonnes of cocaine, with seven crew members since being remanded in custody in New Caledonia. New Caledonian public prosecutor Yves Dupas has reportedly said the cocaine was packaged within about fifty bags. It was reported that the operation took place about 400 nautical miles off the capital of the French territory and that a French Navy jet had assisted. According to The Courier Mail, it is understood the drug shipment, worth about $800 million, was bound for Queensland. The discovery comes just days after the Australian Border Force (ABF) announced on June 18 that over half a tonne of cocaine headed to Australia had been seized following a two-month joint operation. The ABF had worked with customs authorities from a number of countries and territories and targeted the 'rip' concealment method, which uses shipping containers to transport illegal drugs, an ABF statement said. ABF Commander International Claire Rees had said the method was becoming a 'hugely popular' throughout the global drug supply chain. 'Organised crime groups are highly sophisticated enterprises, with incredibly deep pockets and a constantly expanding global reach," she said. A fishing boat carrying cocaine, which New South Wales Police estimated had a street value of $623, was also intercepted off the Mid North Coast in May, in what was described as one of the state's largest drug hauls. The operation had been a joint effort between state and federal police, with AFP Assistant Commissioner Stephen Dametto labelling the incident a 'sophisticated criminal plot'. "Australia's vast coastline is attractive to organised crime groups, who attempt to exploit this by trying to import drugs using boats," he said.
Scoop
02-07-2025
- Scoop
Record 2.5 Tonnes Of Cocaine Seized Off New Caledonia On Panama-Flagged Vessel Bound For Australia
, Correspondent French Pacific Desk 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. 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. 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. US market now saturated "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.
ABC News
02-07-2025
- ABC News
Record 2.5 tonnes of cocaine seized off New Caledonia on Panama-flagged ship bound for Australia
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 Bénébig, 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 Bénébig. ( Source: Supplied/RNZ ) Investigators believe the drug shipment was prepared to be dispatched 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 578 kg of cocaine seized in October 2017 and 750 kg 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. ( Source: 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 67 kg 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. US market now saturated "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, more than 42 kg 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 40 kg 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
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.
