Maritime law is often misunderstood. It was a pleasure to speak with
@7NewsAustralia today on the curious case of the MV Raider.
In January, the vessel was intercepted by the French Navy in international waters off French Polynesia with five tonnes of narcotics onboard. The drugs were destroyed at sea and the vessel released.
abc.net.au/news/2026-02-13/d…
This kind of “catch and release” is more common on the high seas than many realise, for legal and operational reasons. It’s something I’ve seen firsthand in both the Middle East and the Caribbean.
The vessel later arrived in Australia after declaring an emergency in mid-March. Despite its known involvement in narcotics smuggling, no legal action could be taken at that point due to the absence of an Australian jurisdictional nexus.
However, it now appears that approximately one tonne of narcotics remained onboard and was successfully trafficked to Australia — something that, while surprising to many, is operationally feasible through concealed spaces such as false walls, deckheads and other modifications.
The crew have since been charged.
abc.net.au/news/2026-03-30/s…
It’s a useful reminder of the realities of maritime operations, the constraints of maritime law, and the evolving nature of transnational crime at sea.
It also reinforces a broader trend: the Pacific is increasingly being used as a trafficking route for narcotics moving from South America to Australia.
@DefenceUwa @LowyInstitute @NSC_ANU