From 8 June to 5 July 2026, MAOC-N participated in Operation White Sea VI, an international initiative targeting maritime drug trafficking along the European Atlantic coast, the English Channel, the North Sea and major seaports.
Coordinated by Belgian Customs under the Europol-led EMPACT framework, the operation brought together customs and law enforcement authorities from 14 European countries, alongside international partners including Frontex, Europol, the United States, liaison officers based in Latin America, and MAOC-N.
Operation White Sea VI focused on several maritime smuggling methods, including at-sea drug drop-offs, transfers to smaller vessels, concealment by crew members, and narcotics hidden on deck or attached to vessel hulls.
The operation also reinforced a growing trend identified through MAOC-N analysis, whereby criminal networks increasingly use large commercial vessels to drop cocaine shipments at sea for subsequent collection by smaller vessels.
Throughout the operation, authorities analysed and monitored 691 vessels and carried out 117 inspections. Two drug trafficking incidents were detected in Europe, resulting in the seizure of 454 kg of cocaine and the arrest of 5 individuals.
Participating countries included Spain, Portugal, France, Ireland, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Estonia, Latvia and Poland.
Operation White Sea VI once again highlighted the value of international cooperation, intelligence sharing and coordinated operational action in disrupting increasingly sophisticated maritime drug trafficking networks.
Press release: https://news.belgium.be/en/international-operation-white-sea-vi-belgian-customs-coordinates-action-against-maritime-drug
