More than a tonne of cocaine has been seized in Vanuatu, with Australian authorities now supporting local police in the ongoing investigation.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) confirmed it is working closely with the Vanuatu Police Force (VPF) following the major drug discovery at Havannah Harbour in north-west Efate.
The drugs were found on a yacht that had run aground near the shoreline, prompting a joint response.
In a statement, the AFP said it is providing operational, specialist investigative and forensic support at the request of Vanuatu authorities.
“Following a request from VPF, the AFP is working side by side with the Vanuatu Police Force… into a yacht that had run aground close to the shoreline in the harbour, believed to have contained the drugs,” the statement said.
The seizure is one of the largest in the Pacific and highlights growing concerns over transnational drug trafficking in the region.
The AFP reiterated its commitment to working with regional law enforcement partners to combat organised crime.
Investigations into the origin of the drugs and those involved are ongoing.
