Year: 2021

  • Spanish authorities seize 4.7 tons of cannabis resin with the support of MAOC-N

    Spanish authorities seize 4.7 tons of cannabis resin with the support of MAOC-N

    A joint operation conducted by Spanish Customs (DAVA) and the Spanish National Police has resulted in the seizure of 4760Kg of cannabis resin on board the Polish flagged sailing vessel FLORIANA. The vessel was intercepted approximately 70 nautical miles off Cartagena (Spain) and two Bulgarian crew members belonging to an organisation involved in the illicit…

  • MAOC-N supports Senegalese cocaine seizure off West Africa

    MAOC-N supports Senegalese cocaine seizure off West Africa

    In the last days of October the Senegalese Navy with the support of the French air assets stationed in Dakar, conducted a maritime operation which has resulted in the seizure of a considerable amount of cocaine. The Polish flagged motor yacht LA ROSA, was intercepted in international waters off Dakar transporting 81 bags containing 2025Kg…

  • MAOC-N supports Portuguese seizure of 5.2 tons of cocaine

    MAOC-N supports Portuguese seizure of 5.2 tons of cocaine

    A joint operation involving the Portuguese Judicial Police, Navy and Air Force has successfully identified and intercepted a 24-metre sailing vessel in the Atlantic, loaded with 5,200kg of cocaine divided over 183 bales. Indications are that the drugs would have arrived in Europe via the Iberian Peninsula and would subsequently been distributed around the continent.…

  • 2500Kg of cocaine seized by the Spanish authorities with the support of MAOC-N

    2500Kg of cocaine seized by the Spanish authorities with the support of MAOC-N

    On the 8th of October, Spanish Customs (DAVA), together with the Spanish National Police, carried out a maritime operation to intercept a German flagged sailing vessel suspected of being loaded with a large quantity of cocaine. Despite a challenging a sea state, the Spanish boarding team managed to intercept the target approximately 480 nautical miles…

  • MAOC (N) supports the seizure of 1,100 kg of cocaine in the English Channel

    MAOC (N) supports the seizure of 1,100 kg of cocaine in the English Channel

    On the 1st of October, French Customs, with the support of MAOC (N), seized over 1.1 tonnes of cocaine onboard the Liberian flagged merchant vessel TRUDY. Originally coming from Brazil, the vessel called in the Canary Islands before resuming its voyage towards Antwerp, Belgium, where she was to unload a cargo of chalk. The vessel…

  • Brazilian authorities seize cannabis load off Fernando de Noronha

    Brazilian authorities seize cannabis load off Fernando de Noronha

    A joint operation undertaken by the Brazilian Federal Police and Navy has resulted in the seizure of 632kg of cannabis resin on board a Panamanian flagged sailing vessel, approximately 150 nautical miles off the Brazilian archipelago of Fernando de Noronha. Indications are that the vessel departed from Europe with two Italian crew members, both of…

  • UK Minister for Europe and Americas at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office visits MAOC-N

    UK Minister for Europe and Americas at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office visits MAOC-N

    Her Excellency Mrs. Wendy Morton visited MAOC-N this week in the company of the UK Ambassador to Portugal, His Excellency Mr. Christopher James Sainty, in an initiative that served to showcase the Centre’s efforts in combating maritime drug trafficking and to present the UK’s decisive contribution to the results achieved over the last 14 years.…

  • MAOC-N supports Spanish seizure of 1.2 tons of cocaine from stateless yacht

    MAOC-N supports Spanish seizure of 1.2 tons of cocaine from stateless yacht

    A joint Spanish operation involving the Guardia Civil, National Police and Customs, successfully identified and intercepted a sailing vessel, approximately 600 nautical miles west of the Canary Islands, loaded with 1,200kg of cocaine destined for Europe. The vessel was sailing without any known flag and, following exchanges with the UK and German authorities, who were…

  • French Customs seize over 4 tons of cannabis

    French Customs seize over 4 tons of cannabis

    The fishing vessel was detected during a maritime surveillance mission carried out by the French authorities in the Mediterranean, with no visible external markings on the hull and a course which did not appear to be consistent with normal fishing activity in that area. After an extensive search of the vessel it was possible to…

  • MAOC-N supports UK seizure of 2.3 tons of cocaine

    MAOC-N supports UK seizure of 2.3 tons of cocaine

    A joint operation conducted by the UK Border Force and the National Crime Agency (NCA), working closely with the Australian Federal Police and MAOC-N, as resulted in the seizure of 2.370Kg of cocaine destined to Europe. The interdiction of the Jamaican-flagged yacht Kahu, sailing from the Caribbean, took place off the coast of Plymouth (UK),…