Recent news has been marked by a major drug seizure off the coast of West Africa. Indeed, the frigate Ventôse of the French army, engaged in Operation Corymbe, intercepted a fishing boat transporting 2.4 tonnes of cocaine. This seizure, with an estimated value of several tens of millions of euros, testifies to the scale of drug trafficking which passes through this region.
Operation Corymbe, led by French forces, has the mission of monitoring and securing the Gulf of Guinea. This sector has become a hub for drug trafficking between South America and Europe. More and more drug shipments are passing through West Africa, taking advantage of its strategic position.
This seizure is the result of an investigation carried out in partnership with the Brazilian federal police and the American and British drug trafficking services. The intercepted fishing boat was coming from Brazil. Authorities are now investigating whether the ship was heading directly to Europe or planning to stop at a West African port.
It is important to emphasize that this seizure is not an isolated case. In April 2022, 2 tonnes of cocaine, worth 62 million euros, were seized in Ivory Coast. This operation revealed the existence of a vast international drug trafficking network involving individuals of different nationalities.
Faced with this worrying situation, the authorities continue to strengthen their efforts to fight drug trafficking in West Africa. International cooperation between countries and security services is essential to dismantle networks and put an end to this illicit activity.
In conclusion, the recent seizure of 2.4 tonnes of cocaine by the French army frigate Ventôse highlights the scale of drug trafficking passing through West Africa. This situation requires concerted and reinforced action from the authorities in order to dismantle the networks and limit the harmful consequences of this illicit activity. International cooperation remains the key to confronting this major challenge.