A vast anti-drugs operation was deployed from 5 to 8 December in French Polynesia. Photo: Gendarmerie
A vast anti-drugs operation was carried out earlier this month in French Polynesia as a preparation exercise for the Paris 2024 Olympics in July next year.
The operation, dubbed "Tempest", involved up to two hundred French gendarmes being deployed each day for road checks and other operations.
It mainly focused on illicit drugs and resulted in over 6,000 cannabis plants being uprooted on Tahiti, Raiatea, Huahine, and the Australs.
Over five hundred individuals have also been fined for driving under the influence of illicit drugs and significant quantities of methamphetamines and cocaine were also seized, according to the French High Commission.
It said the whole operation was part of the "zero delinquency" plan introduced by the French government in preparation for hosting the 2024 Olympics.
As part of the Olympics, French Polynesia was selected as the host site for the surf competitions on the iconic site of Teahupoo (tahiti Island), where two fan zones will be set up: one in the capital Papeete (with a capacity of 10,000) and another in Papara (5,000)..
French security services also say they will use drones to monitor security during the Games.
