400kgs of cocaine seized on yacht in French Polynesia

11:11 am on 23 January 2017

The French navy has seized more than 400 kilograms of cocaine on a yacht near French Polynesia's Marquesas islands.

Generic cocaine, drugs

Photo: AFP

The French High Commission says the yacht was intercepted by the frigate Prairial about 1,500 kilometres off Tahiti.

It says two men, whose nationality was not given, were detained and will be taken to Papeete where they are expected to be tried.

A customs official said the two tried to sink the yacht to avoid being checked.

The yacht had reportedly sailed from South America.

In February, about 680 kilograms of cocaine was seized on a yacht in French Polynesia.

  • Drug bust in French Polynesia nabs 680kg of cocaine