Category: Operational

Over the past weeks, information has been developed and shared through MAOC-N, that a fishing vessel would be crossing the Atlantic carrying a significant amount of cocaine destined for an unknown location off the Iberian Peninsula. As the target approached European waters,  it was possible to put in place an operational plan agreed by several…

Spanish authorities have seized a cargo vessel carrying approximately 3.281 kg of cocaine northeast of Lanzarote, Canary Islands. The operation was conducted on 04/10/2024 by Special Operations vessel PETREL of the Spanish Customs (DAVA), together with the French Customs (DNRED) vessel DPF-3. The target was a 70-metre-long vessel named RAS, flying the flag of Tanzania.…

In the early hours of Thursday, September 19th, 2024, a joint operation led by the Portuguese Judicial Police (PJ) resulted in the interception of a sailing vessel carrying 100kg of cocaine on the high seas. The operation, coordinated with the support of MAOC-N, involved the collaboration of multiple international authorities from France (DNRED), the US…

The UK authorities have recently seized over one tonne of cocaine from a fishing vessel named LILY LOLA off the coast of Newquay, Cornwall. On September 16th, Border Force officers, acting on intelligence gathered in cooperation with the National Crime Agency (NCA), carried out the operation, which was supported by MAOC (N). During the operation,…

Guinea-Bissau’s Judicial Police has seized 2.63 tonnes of cocaine found on an aircraft at the country’s international airport, after information was shared by international partners that an aircraft would be flying to the country from Venezuela loaded with cocaine. After landing at the Osvaldo Vieira International airport, the rapid intervention from the aforementioned Guinean authorities…

Catania, Italy – In a significant drug bust, the Italian Guarda di Finanza (GDF) seized 540 kg of cocaine from a fishing vessel off the coast of Sicily. The operation occurred during the night between September 2nd and 3rd, 2024, approximately 20 nautical miles South of Portopalo, Italy. After a GDF aircraft identified an Italian-flagged…

On the 15th of August, a maritime operation conducted by the French Forces in the Caribbean led to the record seizure of 10.5 tonnes of cocaine found on board a fishing vessel. Information had been shared through MAOC-N that a fishing vessel was sailing off the Caribbean loaded with a significant amount of cocaine, possibly…

In the last week, the French forces stationed in the Caribbean conducted a maritime operation resulting in the interception of a sailing vessel located approximately 600nm NE of Martinique. Upon boarding the target, the French authorities were able to find several bales scattered inside the vessel, totalling 1255 Kg of cocaine. The prompt intervention of…

In the last days, a joint operation carried out by the Argentinian authorities (Gendarmeria Nacional and Prefectura Naval) resulted in the seizure of 783 Kg of cocaine in a warehouse located in the country, close to the border with Chile. The Argentinian authorities believe that the objective of the investigated organisation was to transport this significant…

In the morning of the 25th of June 2024, a joint operation carried out by the Spanish authorities (National Police, Guardia Civil and SVA – DAVA) resulted in the interception of a semi-submersible off the Iberian Peninsula. On the previous day, via information shared through the Centre, there had been suspicions that an unknown vessel…