On 22 September 2025, in a significant blow against drug trafficking, two French Navy vessels seized 9.6 tonnes of cocaine concealed onboard an unflagged fishing vessel operating off the coast of West Africa.
The operation was launched following a request from the French National Directorate of Intelligence and Customs Investigations (DNRED), acting on intelligence developed within the scope of MAOC-N, and in close cooperation with the French Anti-Narcotics Office (OFAST) and the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA).
This case once again underlines the decisive role of intelligence sharing and international cooperation in tackling transatlantic maritime drug trafficking.
It also highlights the need for the sustained deployment of naval assets in the Gulf of Guinea, a region which MAOC-N has long assessed as a prominent hub for transnational organised crime groups. Maintaining a robust operational presence in these waters is essential to protect Europe’s external borders, disrupt trafficking routes, and deny organised crime groups the freedom to operate in this critical maritime corridor.
