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The French navy has carried out one of the largest drug busts in recent maritime history, seizing almost 10 tonnes of cocaine from an unflagged fishing vessel in the Gulf of Guinea. Authorities said the haul, with an estimated street value of €519 million underscores both the scale of international drug trafficking and the importance of global cooperation in fighting organised crime.
The operation, which took place on Monday, was announced on Thursday by France’s Atlantic Maritime Prefecture It is being hailed as a “remarkable seizure” and a powerful demonstration of how intelligence-sharing and multinational collaboration can deliver results against sophisticated trafficking networks.
A Vast Cocaine Haul
The French navy discovered 9.6 tonnes of cocaine packed aboard an unflagged fishing vessel that was intercepted off the West African coast. The Gulf of Guinea, stretching along several West African nations including Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire, is known as a key transit corridor for drugs smuggled from Latin America to Europe.
The cocaine seized is estimated to be worth over half a billion euros, making it one of the most significant drug interceptions in the region in recent years. The French authorities confirmed that two navy ships were involved in the seizure, boarding the vessel after receiving credible intelligence of its illicit cargo.
Intelligence-Led Operation
According to the statement, the operation was made possible through the “seamless cooperation” of multiple agencies and governments. Key intelligence came from France’s Anti-Narcotics Office (OFAST, as well as the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA).
Additional support came from the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre – Narcotics (MAOC-N), a Lisbon-based initiative that pools resources and intelligence from several European countries, including Belgium, Britain, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, and Portugal.
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Sean Hocking
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