Category: Operational

In recent days, the Spanish authorities launched a maritime operation aimed at intercepting a sailing vessel suspected of carrying a significant quantity of cocaine bound for Europe. Following the dissemination of intelligence via MAOC-N, the Customs Surveillance Service (SVA) patrol vessel Sacre successfully intercepted the target approximately 50 nautical miles off the coast of the…

On 27 June 2025, the French Armed Forces in the Antilles (Forces armées aux Antilles), with support from international partners, conducted a significant counter-narcotics operation in the Caribbean Sea. A French Navy vessel, acting on intelligence and assisted by a U.S. maritime patrol aircraft and an aircraft from the Coast Guard, intercepted a Go-Fast vessel…

On the 6th of June, the French Forces in the Caribbean carried out a maritime operation that led to the seizure of a substantial quantity of cannabis resin on board a sailing vessel, located in international waters off the coast of Guyana. Acting on intelligence shared by several countries under the MAOC-N framework, authorities had…

In recent days, a joint operation conducted by the Portuguese Judicial Police, Navy, and Air Force has resulted in the seizure of 1,660 kg of cocaine. The 11-metre sailing vessel was intercepted by the Portuguese Navy while sailing south-west from the Azores with three crew members on board. The vessel was escorted to Ponta Delgada…

The Spanish National Police has dismantled a major criminal network involved in trafficking cocaine from South America to the Canary Islands using high-speed vessels. The operation followed months of investigation and resulted in 48 arrests. Those detained formed part of a hierarchical organisation with coordinators based in the Canary Islands responsible for receiving and distributing…

A joint operation by the Federal Police, Air Force, and the Brazilian Navy resulted in the seizure of a semi-submersible that was being prepared to cross the Atlantic to Europe, carrying a significant amount of cocaine. This operation follows the seizure of 6 tons of cocaine aboard a similar vessel, last March by Portuguese authorities.…

MAOC (N) recently co-organised a milestone international conference in Cartagena, Colombia, bringing together over 100 experts from 19 countries to address the growing threat of Semi-Submersible vessels in cross-Atlantic drug trafficking. In partnership with the Colombian Armada Nacional, which has significant operational experience in interdicting semi-submersibles, this three-day event featured workshops, capability demonstrations, and invaluable…

A large-scale international operation has led to the seizure of 630 kg of cocaine, the coast of northern France. The drugs were transferred at sea using the “drop off” method, involving a cargo vessel from Brazil and smaller vessels operated by French nationals. The successful operation was the result of a long investigation by French…

On March 22, the French forces stationed in the Caribbean conducted a significant anti-drug trafficking operation, which resulted in the seizure of approximately 1,200 kg of cocaine aboard a fishing vessel of Brazilian origin. After the information was shared within the framework of MAOC-N, a French Navy asset was able to locate and intercept the…

In an extraordinary operation, Portuguese authorities have successfully intercepted a semi-submersible vessel carrying approximately 6.5 tonnes of cocaine, marking a significant victory in the fight against transnational drug trafficking. The operation, codenamed NAUTILUS, was supported by MAOC-N and involved a swift and coordinated effort between the Portuguese authorities – Judicial Police (PJ), Navy, and Air…