‘Biggest ever’ drug bust in Vanuatu

‘Biggest ever’ drug bust in Vanuatu

Vanuatu police and customs officials, along with agents of the Australian Federal Police and the US Drug Enforcement Agency seized about 750 kilograms of cocaine from the hull of a pleasure yacht last week. The haul, whose value is estimated to be worth AUD 370 million, is the largest ever in the Pacific islands, and one of the largest that Australian police have ever made.

The yacht had been left unattended in Port Vila harbour for two years, according to authorities. No explanations were provided concerning the timing of the decision to search the vessel, and no arrests were announced in conjunction with the seizure.

This article was written by
Dan McGarry

Dan McGarry is chief technologist at the Pacific Insititute of Public Policy. He has worked in the Pacific for over a decade now, assisting in numerous capacities in the development of ICTs in Vanuatu and the Pacific. He has extensive experience in technology policy formulation and implementation as well as in traditional and new media. He still writes software.