Cocaine smuggling trial opens in New Caledonia

The trial has opened in New Caledonia of four men accused of smuggling 1.4 tonnes of cocaine.

The four men from Latvia and Lithuania were on a yacht off Tonga they intercepted by the French navy in July.

The prosecution has asked for the captain to be jailed for ten years and the other three for eight years.

The drug consignment was burnt under tight security in the furnace of the SLN nickel smelter in Noumea.

It is believed the drugs, worth more than $US100 million, were destined for the Australian market.