Category: Operational

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…

On the 8th of June, 2024, the French Navy patrol vessel DUMONT D’URVILLE, which is stationed in the Caribbean, seized nearly 1.2 tonnes of cocaine from a 13 metre-long sailing vessel just 32nm East of Mustique Island (St. Vincent and the Grenadines). On board the French-flagged sailing vessel, found out to be named TOMY, the…

On May 15th, 2024, the French Navy intercepted a Venezuelan-flagged fishing vessel named ALEPPO in the Atlantic Ocean, 820 nautical miles northeast of Martinique. The operation was carried out by the crew of the French Navy’s surveillance frigate VENTOSE, with the support of DNRED and OFAST. Utilizing the frigate’s on-board helicopter for relocation, they boarded…

On May 22nd, 2024, the Surveillance Frigate VENTÔSE of the French Navy intercepted a flagless fishing vessel on the Atlantic high seas. The vessel, found out to be named TY COZ, had 5 crew members and was carrying 63 bales and 4 bricks of cocaine onboard. The VENTÔSE proceeded to interdict the TY COZ after…

A significant narcotics operation conducted on the night of May 23-24 led to the seizure of 406 kg of cocaine in the Bay of Biscay. The operation, led by the French authorities, saw the French Customs Patrol Vessel KERMORVAN, based in Brest, intercept a sailing vessel named LE DAHU, flying the Polish flag. The French…

In the past week, the French Navy conducted 2 maritime operations off the Caribbean, resulting in the seizure of over 2400 Kg of cocaine destined for Europe. The first target was a polish-flagged sailing vessel, which was intercepted and boarded by the French Navy asset Ventôse, 500 nautical miles off Martinique in an area widely…