Operation WHITE SEA was coordinated by Belgian Customs and took place over the last month, with the operational activities situated along the Western European coast, in the seaports, on the Channel and the North Sea.
This operational activity is included in one of the action plans of the European Union’s European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) and involved the authorities of Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Poland, Portugal and the United Kingdom in close coordination and with the support and commitment of Frontex, Europol and the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre – Narcotics (MAOC-N).
The operation focused on several maritime smuggling methods and counted on the support of patrol vessels, fast boats, boarding teams, rummage teams, divers, helicopters and coastguard aircraft from the participating countries. Several analysis units were also deployed for OP WHITE SEA.
During the operation, there were 8 seizures in Europe totalling 1509 kg of cocaine, 12 arrests, 779 vessels analysed and 79 inspections carried out.
