British and Lithuanian arrested in major cocaine haul

A British national and a Lithuanian were arrested after the Vanuatu Police Force (VPF) seized 1.6 tons of cocaine on board a yacht at Havannah Harbour in north Efate.

This was confirmed by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Andrew Napuat, during a press conference yesterday.

Minister Napuat said this was the first significant drug haul with in Vanuatu, involving a large quantity.

He applauded the VPF for the investigation and works done to locate the boat, to seize the drug and to arrest the British and the Lithuanian nationals who were on board.

He said the two foreigners are now detained by the police to face the court on serious drug charges.

Minister Napuat said the drug was seized by the VPF for forensic testing to establish its purity.

He said the yacht, Inner Smile, entered the Vanuatu waters illegally with Customs and Immigration unaware of its arrival at Havannah.

The yacht already arrived at Havannah on March 1, 2026 during the recent bad weather faced in the country and it was then washed on to a reef by strong waves.

Police now believed that it is the same drug consignment that they were informed about that was believed to have been dropped in the ocean between Fiji and Vanuatu a few weeks ago.

A reliable source said police suspected that it is the same drug because it was not hidden inside the hull but was on the deck of the yacht.

Authorities are still investing the route of Inner Smile and its destination.

The destination of the drug is yet to be confirmed.

Police Commissioner Kalshem Bongran said whoile the market value of the 1.6 tons of cocaine is unknown, it could worth billions of vatu if confirmed as pure.

The 780 kg of cocaine seized some years ago in Port Vila harbor aboard a selling boat is estimated to have a market value of VT37 billion.