Category: Operational

In recent days, an operation carried out by the French Navy resulted in the interception of a go-fast vessel in international waters off Madeira (Portugal). After being ordered to stop, the go-fast vessel failed to comply with the instructions of the French authorities, making it necessary to employ the use of force to immobilise the…

In recent days, a maritime operation carried out by the French Forces in the Caribbean, has resulted in the interception of a stateless fishing vessel in the Atlantic. Upon boarding the target, French operatives discovered 250 bales containing a total of 7,056 kilograms of cocaine. The six crew members and the illicit cargo were taken…

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…

On 29 August, the French Navy intercepted a fishing vessel in international waters off the coast of West Africa, seizing 5919 kg of cocaine. The operation was carried out at the request of the French authorities (OFAST) and followed intelligence provided by the UK (NCA) and US authorities (DEA), with the support of MAOC-N and…

On August 8, the Surveillance Services of the Spanish Customs (DAVA) and the Spanish Civil Guard conducted a maritime operation, with the support of the Spanish Armada, that resulted in the interception of the vessel SKY WHITE in international waters West of the Canary Islands, Spain. A total of 80 bales of cocaine – weighing…

On Saturday, 12 July, the French authorities successfully intercepted and boarded a vessel in international waters during a maritime counter-narcotics operation supported by MAOC (N). During the search, the boarding team uncovered 153 bales, weighing a total of 4841kg – almost five tonnes of cocaine – representing a significant disruption to the ever-evolving dynamics of…

The Polícia Judiciária (PJ), with the support of the Portuguese Navy and Portuguese Air Force, has intercepted a 14-metre sailing vessel in the Atlantic Ocean carrying approximately 263kg of cocaine. The vessel was travelling from Latin America to Europe when it was located and boarded in international waters. After the interception, the vessel was escorted…

Last week, French customs (DNRED) carried out a major drug seizure on board a sailing vessel that had made a stopover in Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia. Following a thorough search, officers discovered a substantial quantity of drugs on board, totalling 900 kilograms of cocaine and 180 kilograms of methamphetamine, reportedly destined for Australia. It is…

In a significant blow to international drug trafficking networks, Irish authorities have seized 440kg of cocaine following a coordinated maritime interdiction operation off the coast of Cork, Ireland. The drugs were offloaded from a suspected mother vessel — a 200-metre bulk carrier arriving from South America — and collected at sea by a go-fast, which…

MAOC (N) participated in Operation White Sea V, a large-scale international initiative targeting maritime drug trafficking across the European west coast, the English Channel, the North Sea, and major seaports. The operation, led by Belgian Customs and coordinated under the EU’s EMPACT framework by Europol, ran from 2 to 30 June 2025. Twelve European countries…