Record cocaine seizure: a direct contribution to the maritime security b in the Gulf of Guinea
Sunday the 21st of March 2021, in the Gulf of Guinea, the French amphibious assault ship Dixmude performed a record seizure of more than 6 tons of cocaine, during an operation led by the maritime prefect of the Atlantic and Brest prosecutor’s office.
This operation seriously undermines illegal activities that fund organised crime and terrorist activities. Engaged in the 156th run of the Corymbe operation, FS Dixmude thus directly contributes to the fight against maritime insecurity in the gulf of Guinea.
Under the operational command of the Chief of Defense Staff and the operational control of the French commander Atlantic maritime area (CECLANT), the French amphibious assault ship Dixmude has been engaged in the 156th run of the Corymbe operation since February 11th patrolling the gulf of Guinea.
Early this Sunday morning March the 21st, her boarding team deployed on fast boats stepped in the general cargo Najlan with flag state agreement of Saint Kitts and Nevis, flew over by Dixmude’s air assets (a Camcopter S-100 UAV and an Alouette III helicopter). The Italian frigate Rizzo acted from a distance as supporting unit to monitor the area.
Before long, 6 000 kilograms of cocaine were discovered. This fits 18 000 kg of cut cocaine that will not flood the market, that is to say an average of one billion euros payoffs.
The Najlan is a 105-meter long cargo, which left South-America few days ago and was under close surveillance.
After this operation, the French commander Atlantic maritime area (CECLANT) ordered the Dixmude to resume her run of Corymbe operation. She is now catching up with her African, European and American partners for the end of a major international naval exercise.
Since 1990, France usually deploys one or two warships in the Gulf of Guinea as part of the Corymbe operation. The FS Dixmude is conducting the 156th run of this Corymbe operation and fights against illegal activities that fund organised crime and terrorist activities. This record seizure emphasises the efficiency and responsiveness of the French military posture in the Gulf of Guinea, both along the coast and at sea.
The French operation Corymbe participates in the maritime insecurity decline, training African navies and the entire architecture of the Yaounde interregional cooperation. French warships round off the French military presence in West and Central Africa and take part in their regional operational cooperation.
Source : Maritime prefect of the Atlantic
