The head of the French police in French Polynesia has warned of the serious impact of hard drugs on the fabric of the territory's society.
Photo: Wikipedia
According to Tahiti-infos, the commander Pierre Caudrelier told a commemorative church service for the gendarmes' patron saint that the rise in the number of particular young offenders could destabilise the entire society.
He said the use of methamphetamine brought in from the US has become a threat to public health and fuels corruption.
Mr Caudrelier said the money generated with the drugs trade flowed into the car market, was being laundered through local banks and reinvested into property.
In his address, he urged people to "wake from their slumber" and help the younger generation now being corrupted by those making easy money.
In the past month, more than 1.4 tonnes of cocaine was seized, believed to be destined for Australia and New Zealand.