The National Navy proceeded Sunday with a record seizure of more than six tons of cocaine in the Gulf of Guinea, announced Monday the maritime prefecture of the Atlantic, welcoming an "
exceptional result
".
The largest seizure of cocaine dated back to 2006, when the frigate Ventôse intercepted 4.3 tonnes in the West Indies.
The seizure on Sunday was carried out under the direction of the maritime prefect of the Atlantic and the prosecutor of the Republic of Brest, indicates the maritime prefecture in a press release.
The "
large-scale
" operation was carried out on the basis of information transmitted by the French anti-narcotics office (OFAST) and the Dutch police, in collaboration with the operational center for maritime intelligence analysis for narcotics (MAOC-N ), an international agency based in Lisbon, Europol and the Brazilian authorities.
Sailors from Diksmuide pose on deck with seized drug shipments.
Corentin Charles / French Navy / AFP
A team of the amphibious helicopter carrier (PHA) Diksmuide intervened aboard the cargo ship Najlan with the agreement of the flag State, namely the Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis located in the Caribbean.
“
Very quickly, more than 6,000 kilograms of cocaine were discovered on board,
” assures the maritime prefecture.
The Najlan, a cargo ship measuring nearly 105 meters in length, had left the South American coast several days earlier and was the subject of special monitoring, according to the same source.
According to the specialized site Mer et Marine, two semi-rigid boats, a helicopter and a drone were mobilized to proceed with the operation.
The crew of the Najlan, which had left Rio de Janeiro earlier this month, were cooperative.
During the day, the Brest public prosecutor authorized the ship to resume its journey to Abidjan.
Dixmude participates in the Corymbe device in the Gulf of Guinea, launched in 1990 by the French Navy, against piracy and trafficking.
The cargo ship Najlan seen from the Diksmuide Bridge.
Navy
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"
The perfect cooperation between national and international actors in the fight against narcotics, supported by the diplomatic network of the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEAE), has made it possible to obtain this exceptional result
", underlines the maritime prefecture. , who adds that the judicial investigations will continue.
Admiral Vandier, Chief of Staff of the Navy, hailed a “
historic
”
seizure
.
Identification of narcotic products on board the cargo ship.
Navy
A sailor from Diksmuide inspects the illegal cargo.
Corentin Charles / French Navy / AFP
