On 21/09/2023, the French surveillance frigate Ventôse seized 2.4 tonnes of cocaine on a fishing vessel off the coast of West Africa.
This large-scale operation was carried out on the basis of an investigation by the Brazilian Federal Police in cooperation with the British National Crime Agency (NCA) and the US authorities, in coordination with MAOC-N.
The 20-meter-long fishing vessel had left the Brazilian coast a few days earlier, with its maritime route probably bound for West Africa/ Gulf of Guinea.
Within the scope of the French Operation “Corymbe”, which main objective is to carry out missions to combat maritime insecurity and illicit trafficking in the Gulf of Guinea, the French Navy – working together with the anti-drugs office (OFAST) – managed to secure another important cocaine seizure, in an area that has been particularly sensitive in recent years.
Official press release: https://www.premar-atlantique.gouv.fr/communiques-presse/la-fregate-de-surveillance-fs-ventose-saisit-2-4-tonnes-de-cocaine-au-large-des-cotes-africaines
