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 fishing vessel collecting suspicious packages at sea, the GDF quickly intercepted the vessel, uncovering 540 kg of cocaine in 18 packages. The vessel was escorted to the Port of Catania, leading to the arrest of five crew members—four Italians and one Serbian.
This operation – which represents a major victory in the fight against drug trafficking in the Mediterranean – had the contribution of the US authorities (Drug Enforcement Agency -DEA) as well as the Spanish Authorities and was supported by MAOC-N.
As one of the founding countries, Italy has been a key strategic partner of MAOC-N, having contributed with valuable intelligence in operations coordinated through the Centre and facilitating international cooperation in the context of maritime drug trafficking.
