Record cocaine seizure by the French Navy in the Gulf of Guinea
Sunday the 21st of March 2021, in the Gulf of Guinea, the French Navy 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 large-scale operation was based on intelligence forwarded by the French anti-drug agency (OFAST) and the Dutch police, in close collaboration with the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre – Narcotics (MAOC-N), based in Lisbon, the European Police Office (EUROPOL) and Brazilian authorities.
The boarding team of the French amphibious assault ship Dixmude stepped in the general cargo Najlan with flag state agreement of Saint Kitts and Nevis, according to the article 17 procedure of the United Nations convention against illicit traffic in narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances. Six tons of cocaine were quickly discovered.
The Najlan is a 105-meter long cargo, which left South-America few days ago and was under close surveillance.
The excellent cooperation between both French and international anti-drug agencies, supported by the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs, allowed this exceptional result. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the French government action at sea to protect borders and fight against organised crime.
Judicial investigations are ongoing.
Source : Maritime prefect of the Atlantic
