French Navy Seizes 4.6 Tons of Cocaine Heading for Europe
In an international operation off the coast of Africa, the French Navy apprehended a Brazilian ship carrying more than 4.6 tons of cocaine for an estimated $157.8 million (street value estimated at over $360 million). The successful operation, according to Europol, is the most recent attempt to stop the continual supply of drugs from South America to Europe.
The French Navy's interception was made possible by intelligence gathering efforts being carried out by Europol, the Maritime Analysis and Operation Centre - Narcotics (MAOC - N), and the governments of Brazil, France, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
According to reports, police have been monitoring the activities of the roughly 70-foot-long Brazilian-registered yacht ever since it left South America. The authorities decided to take the ship while it was about 400 miles off Sierra Leone, despite their belief that it was headed for Europe.
The seizure, which took place on November 30, was credited to the Tonnere, a French amphibious assault carrier. The Brazilian-flagged yacht is surrounded by numerous Zodiac boats as helicopters circle overhead as the French team launches the operation. The French squad entered the ship and discovered many damaged cocaine packages. The Brazilian citizens on board the ship were detained.
According to a statement from Europol, "an investigation is ongoing to identify the criminal organisations engaged on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean."
The seizure, which is the most recent in a string of drug seizures primarily from South America to Europe, came just one week after coordinated raids were conducted across Europe and the United Arab Emirates targeting the infrastructure used for logistical and command-and-control aspects of drug trafficking in Europe. Over the course of the investigation, law enforcement authorities were able to confiscate more than 30 tons of cocaine connected to the group and detain 49 suspects.
The MAOC-N partner nations say that they have so far this year seized almost 15 tons of cocaine from operations managed by the Centre. This covers operations from the Gulf of Guinea to Senegal/Cape Verde.