Category: Operational

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…

On the morning of April 17th, 2024, a bulk carrier named ACACIA, flying the flag of the Marshall Islands, was boarded by the Italian Guardia di Finanza and the Ravenna State Police near the port of Ravenna, Italy. During this operation, which was carried out in difficult weather and sea conditions, the GDF divers found…

In a significant victory against organised crime, Spanish and Portuguese authorities have joined forces under operation GRAJUELA, successfully intercepting 627Kg of cocaine on board a “go-fast” boat operating in the Strait of Gibraltar. Alongside this cocaine haul, law enforcement authorities also seized a significant quantity of cash, vehicles and speedboats, as well as communications and…

The French Navy – working together with the anti-drugs office (OFAST) and DNRED – managed to secure another important cocaine seizure, in an area that has been particularly problematic in recent years. On 04/03/2024, a French amphibious helicopter carrier seized 894kg of cocaine on a sailing vessel in the Gulf of Guinea, after a Falcon…

In a significant blow against drug trafficking, the French Navy, with support from the MAOC-N, intercepted a vessel carrying over 10 tonnes of cocaine in the Gulf of Guinea. This seizure, amounting to 10693kg, marks a record-breaking achievement for MAOC-N, surpassing the previous record of 9.5 tonnes seized in the vessel ESER, a general cargo,…

In the early morning of February 3rd, 2024, the Spanish Navy, in a joint operation by the Civil Guard, National Police and the Customs Surveillance Service, intercepted a sailing vessel carrying 157kg of cocaine in the waters near Cape Verde. The 19-meter, Polish-flagged sloop had departed South America and was apparently en route to the…