News

  • MAOC (N) Supports Portuguese Authorities in Seizure of 263 kg of Cocaine in the Atlantic

    MAOC (N) Supports Portuguese Authorities in Seizure of 263 kg of Cocaine in the Atlantic

    The Polícia Judiciária (PJ), with the support of the Portuguese Navy and Portuguese Air Force, has intercepted a 14-metre sailing vessel in the Atlantic Ocean carrying approximately 263kg of cocaine. The vessel was travelling from Latin America to Europe when it was located and boarded in international waters. After the interception, the vessel was escorted…


  • French Authorities Seize 900 Kg of Cocaine and 180 Kg of Methamphetamine in Nuku Hiva (Polynesia)

    French Authorities Seize 900 Kg of Cocaine and 180 Kg of Methamphetamine in Nuku Hiva (Polynesia)

    Last week, French customs (DNRED) carried out a major drug seizure on board a sailing vessel that had made a stopover in Nuku Hiva, French Polynesia. Following a thorough search, officers discovered a substantial quantity of drugs on board, totalling 900 kilograms of cocaine and 180 kilograms of methamphetamine, reportedly destined for Australia. It is…


  • Irish Authorities Seize 440kg of Cocaine off the Coast of Cork, Ireland

    Irish Authorities Seize 440kg of Cocaine off the Coast of Cork, Ireland

    In a significant blow to international drug trafficking networks, Irish authorities have seized 440kg of cocaine following a coordinated maritime interdiction operation off the coast of Cork, Ireland. The drugs were offloaded from a suspected mother vessel — a 200-metre bulk carrier arriving from South America — and collected at sea by a go-fast, which…


  • MAOC (N) Participates in Operation White Sea V

    MAOC (N) Participates in Operation White Sea V

    MAOC (N) participated in Operation White Sea V, a large-scale international initiative targeting maritime drug trafficking across the European west coast, the English Channel, the North Sea, and major seaports. The operation, led by Belgian Customs and coordinated under the EU’s EMPACT framework by Europol, ran from 2 to 30 June 2025. Twelve European countries…


  • Crew sets fire to sailing vessel after being intercepted by Spanish authorities

    Crew sets fire to sailing vessel after being intercepted by Spanish authorities

    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…


  • Major Cocaine Seizure in the Caribbean by French Armed Forces

    Major Cocaine Seizure in the Caribbean by French Armed Forces

    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…