Customs officers at Tahiti-Faa’a have stepped up their control operations during the second half of April, leading to several significant seizures of undeclared pearls, both on arrival and departure at the airport.

At the domestic terminal, passengers arriving from the islands were intercepted with 43,372 pearls, representing a total weight of 81.843 kg.
These shipments lacked proof of origin, as required by regulations.
After regularization, settlement fines were imposed on the senders and recipients involved.

At the international terminal, a female passenger bound for Los Angeles was stopped in the boarding area while carrying 29 loose pearls of high value in her hand luggage.
Due to the absence of a customs declaration and failure to present the official document issued by the Pearl Farming Service — required for all exports — the pearls were confiscated.
The traveler will be required to pay a customs settlement and a penalty.

These actions by customs reflect the increased vigilance of Polynesian authorities in regulating the pearl trade.
They actively contribute to defending the “Tahitian Pearl” label and combating illegal distribution channels, ensuring the traceability and value of this strategic export product.