The Mistral Amphibious Helicopter Carrier seizes almost 900 kg of cocaine off the coast of Africa
On Saturday 04 November 2023, under the direction of the Atlantic Maritime Prefect and the Brest Public Prosecutor, the French Navy’s amphibious helicopter carrier (PHA) Mistral seized 885 kg of cocaine from a fishing boat off the coast of West Africa.
OFAST requested the intervention of the French Navy, in the light of information transmitted by its Brazilian, American and British partners.
Supported by an NH90, a drone and two Gazelle helicopters embarked on board the PHA Mistral, the Mistral’s visiting team intervened early in the day on the high seas, on Saturday 04 November 2023, on a fishing boat. The operation was initiated on the basis of Article 110 of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (Montego Bay), and led to the discovery of narcotics. A total of 885 kilograms of cocaine were found on board, then transferred to the Amphibious Helicopter Carrier Mistral for destruction.
The 15-metre-long fishing boat had left the South American coast a few days earlier. The maritime route taken could have been a harbinger of the arrival of the cocaine in Europe.
Perfect cooperation between the national and international players in the fight against drugs, in particular the Maritime Intelligence Operational Centre for Drugs (MAOC-N) and the Anti-Drugs Office (OFAST), enabled this exceptional result to be achieved. It illustrates the effectiveness of the French government’s action at sea in protecting external borders and combating organised crime.
Since August, the Mistral Amphibious Helicopter Carrier has been involved in Operation Corymbe, contributing to maritime security and combating illegal activities in the Gulf of Guinea in conjunction with our African and European partners. In particular, she has welcomed the SIREN onboard school and its thirty or so trainees from the navies bordering the Gulf of Guinea. The PHA Mistral also took part in the Grand African NEMO 2023 maritime cooperation exercise, which ended on 19 October in Lomé (Togo).
The French Navy deploys one or two French vessels supported by a maritime patrol aircraft on an almost permanent basis in the Gulf of Guinea as part of Operation Corymbe. This complements France’s presence in West Africa by taking part in the maritime component of operational cooperation. Through its presence in the area, France is contributing to the development of the maritime security architecture resulting from the Yaoundé process. This deployment is also in line with the concept of a coordinated maritime presence promoted by the European Union.
Préfecture maritime de l’Atlantique
