French navy seizes six tons of cocaine in Gulf of Guinea

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French navy seizes six tons of cocaine in Gulf of Guinea

9:23 CAT | 26 Mar 2021

All photos: French Navy

The French navy seized six tons of cocaine on a ship travelling from South America in the largest drug seizure off the West African coast this year.

The narcotic was discovered when the French vessel intercepted a Saint Kitts and Nevis-flagged cargo ship in the Gulf of Guinea, the French Justice Ministry said in a statement Tuesday.

France’s anti-drug agency, Europol and Brazilian authorities collaborated in the seizure, which is the second-largest in the region since authorities in Cape Verde found 9.6 tons of cocaine on a Panama-flagged vessel in 2019.

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.
Naval News Staff 22 Mar 2021

French Navy press release

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.