A French Polynesian court has sentenced 20 people to up to seven years in prison for their role in a vast marijuana production and distribution network.
Photo: 123RF
They were found guilty of growing the drug on Tahiti Iti for sale across the Society Islands through a network of dealers from 2010 to 2014.
The head of the organisation Marvin Ah-Min was given a seven-year prison sentence and a $US90,000 fine.
He had already been in detention as part of an investigation into the distribution of methamphetamine.
Papeete, capital of French Polynesia Photo: RNZI
The other defendants were given shorter prison sentences which combined add up to a total of 65 years.
According to the prosecution, it was the biggest drug ring of the past decade.
A defence lawyer noted the severity of the sentences and added that one cannot deny that hundreds of families in French Polynesia make their living with drugs.