MAOC-N had the honour of welcoming France’s Minister of Justice (Garde des Sceaux), Gérald Darmanin, to its headquarters in Lisbon. The visit was hosted by the Centre’s Executive Director and Head of Operations, who presented MAOC‑N’s ongoing work and operational priorities in the fight against maritime drug trafficking.
Minister Darmanin was accompanied by Laureline Peyrefitte, Head of the Directorate of Criminal Affairs and Pardons, reflecting the strong institutional engagement of the French justice authorities in international counter‑narcotics efforts. Also in attendance were Ambassador of France to Portugal Hélène Farnaud-Defromont, Grégory Canal, Chief of Staff and Political Counsellor, and Anne-Lise Bagrel, Counsellor for European and International Affairs and the Fight Against Terrorism.
Discussions during the visit focused on enhancing operational cooperation, intelligence sharing, and coordinated responses to evolving threats and new modus operandi by transnational organised crime along key Atlantic trafficking routes.
France, as a founding member of MAOC‑N, continues to play a pivotal role within the Centre. Its sustained commitment and operational contributions have been instrumental in a number of significant interdictions supported by the Centre.
The Executive Director of MAOC-N thanked the French Minister for the support rendered by the French authorities to partner countries and highlighted the consistent deployment of French naval and aerial assets to conduct maritime interdictions in the Atlantic, particularly in the sensitive West African region. This year alone, the French Navy has already conducted three maritime operations in coordination with MAOC‑N, resulting in the seizure of over eight tonnes of cocaine.
