Article: Record seizure of cocaine in West Africa: a French frigate intercepts a fishing boat
The French army and the Atlantic Maritime Prefecture have announced a major seizure of cocaine off the coast of West Africa. As part of Operation Corymbe, a French frigate intercepted a fishing boat carrying 2.4 tonnes of cocaine. This is a hard blow for the trafficking networks, and further proof of the growth of drug trafficking in the region.
Without giving precise details on the location of the interception, the maritime prefecture indicated that the frigate Ventôse had seized the drugs from an unflagged fishing boat. Accompanied by a Falcon 50 plane and a Dauphin helicopter, the frigate team managed to arrest the crew and destroy the drugs on site.
This seizure is the result of an international investigation carried out by the Brazilian federal police, in collaboration with the American and British drug trafficking services. The fishing boat had set sail from Brazil and was probably heading towards Europe, but the ongoing investigation will reveal more about the details of this trafficking.
West Africa has become a hub for cocaine trafficking between South America and Europe. Seizures have increased in recent years, highlighting the scale of the problem in the region. In April 2022, a seizure of 2 tonnes of cocaine was made in Ivory Coast, revealing the involvement of international networks and the country’s business circles. The trial in this case is still pending.
This new blow to drug trafficking in West Africa highlights the importance of international cooperation in the fight against this scourge. The French authorities and their partners continue to strengthen their resources to effectively combat drug trafficking and protect the Gulf of Guinea region, the scene of numerous operations aimed at dismantling trafficking networks.