French Polynesia: March in Papeete against methamphetamine, a “scourge” in the region

Some 6,500 people, according to law enforcement, gathered on Saturday, September 6, in the streets of Papeete for a march against methamphetamine, the use of which has been "plaguing" French Polynesia for two decades. Initiated by the Polynesian Citizens' Federation for the Fight Against Drugs and Drug Addiction, the demonstration brought together various associations and religious denominations, anonymous individuals, and a few elected officials, according to a correspondent for Agence France-Presse (AFP).

"We want the population to become aware of the scale of this scourge and we want to alert the authorities. The problem of "ice" [the name given to methamphetamine in Polynesia] is more than twenty years old. At the time, nothing was done and today we see the results on the ground," the president of the Federation, Kathy Gaudot, told AFP.

Highly addictive, this drug is known to boost concentration, delay sleep and enhance sexual performance, but it has destructive effects on the body and mental health.

Charles Renvoyé, an active member of the Federation and former user, said he is "called every day" by families dealing with a loved one's addiction. "This morning, I went to see another person who quit three weeks ago. They are in full descent and are exploding. We talk about those who are addicted, but we forget the families who are suffering (...) Our beautiful Polynesia is rotten," he lamented.

"They even say it's snowing in Tahiti because there's so much of it!" added Kathy Gaudot, who hopes that authorities, both locally and nationally, will take "concrete action" to stem the phenomenon. She called for additional resources "for maritime surveillance" and "customs services," as well as medical responses. "A detoxification center is a real priority today. The situation is dramatic. All social classes are affected, even well-integrated people," she said.

According to the official, Polynesia has some "30,000 consumers" for a population of around 280,000 inhabitants. "From what we see on the ground, we are even beyond that," estimated Kathy Gaudot.

Papeete's public prosecutor, Solène Belaouar, told AFP that she had "no indicators" that would allow her to confirm this figure. "But ice consumption is a feature of many criminal cases," she stressed.

Since the beginning of the year, 265 kilos of methamphetamine have been seized in the territory, according to the magistrate, including 181 kilos aboard a sailboat intercepted in the Marquesas Islands archipelago in July. However, the drug was not intended for the Polynesian market.