Combined total of 65 years jail for Tahiti drug dealers

12:42 pm on 14 April 2017

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.

Marijuana

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

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.

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