Over four tonnes of cocaine, valued at approximately $1.5 billion, were intercepted near French Polynesia this month before reaching New Zealand. This joint operation, known as “Kiwa,” involved New Zealand’s intelligence, customs, and defense agencies collaborating with authorities from France and the United States.
Jamie Bamford, the deputy chief executive of operations at New Zealand Customs, confirmed that “good intelligence” indicated the drugs were intended for the New Zealand market. He emphasized that the volume of cocaine retrieved was significant enough to supply the country for about nine years, based on current consumption levels. Bamford expressed concerns over the increasing influx of cocaine from Central and South America into markets like New Zealand.
Jose Sousa-Santos, a transnational crime expert at Canterbury University’s Pacific Regional Security Hub, pointed out the alarming reality that New Zealand has become a major transit hub in the Pacific drug trafficking network. He noted that drug cartels have identified the country’s unpatrolled shorelines as advantageous for smuggling operations. The intercepted shipment was believed to be on its way to New Zealand before being further distributed to Australia, where the drugs would not face the same scrutiny as those from high-risk countries.
Within just three weeks, more than 12 tonnes of cocaine were seized in nearby regions, but Sousa-Santos warned that much more likely escaped detection. Recent strategies by French authorities have raised concerns, as they seized drugs but opted to release the vessels and crews to avoid lengthy legal processes. This approach, according to Sousa-Santos, could send the wrong message to drug cartels and hinder law enforcement’s ability to monitor trafficking operations effectively.
Meanwhile, another vessel, the MV Raider, found in New Zealand waters off the Kermadec Islands with nearly 5 tonnes of cocaine meant for Australia, has drawn attention. The ship had previously made a distress call in Rarotonga due to engine issues. New Zealand’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters, clarified that New Zealand was not involved in the seizure of the cocaine and instead provided support to the Cook Islands to deny the vessel entry.
As cocaine trafficking continues to escalate in the Pacific, many experts believe that the use of semi-submersible vessels, commonly referred to as narco subs, will grow, leading to ongoing challenges for regional security and drug enforcement efforts. The situation highlights the need for increased vigilance and cooperation among Pacific nations to combat this rising threat and protect their borders.
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