2.4 Tons of Cocaine Worth €128 Million Confiscated by French Navy
The French Navy intercepted a speedboat carrying 2.4 tons of cocaine near Madeira, the Brest public prosecutor’s office said on Tuesday. Authorities estimated the drug’s market value at more than €128 million.
According to sources, the military used gunfire after the vessel ignored orders to stop. Shots were fired from a frigate at the boat’s engines, forcing it to halt. The crew was arrested, though officials have not released their nationalities.
The operation was part of an international effort involving law enforcement agencies from France, Portugal, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States. A helicopter from the French Navy and a customs aircraft also took part in the mission.
With a retail market estimated to be worth at least EUR 5.7 billion annually, cocaine is Europe’s most commonly used stimulant. Use of the drug may be declining slightly, but availability may be increasing.
Joint Operation Involving U.S., U.K., Spain, and Portugal
Officials described the seizure as the result of months of coordination between international authorities. The Brest prosecutor’s office said the mission required close cooperation among military and civilian agencies in several countries.
Portugal and Spain have become key entry points for cocaine shipments from South America to Europe, prompting increased surveillance in Atlantic waters. The Madeira operation, officials said, demonstrated how traffickers are using fast boats to move large quantities of drugs in open seas.
Europol Chief Warns of Record Cocaine Production in Latin America
European police forces say such seizures are becoming more frequent as production rises in Latin America. “In South and Central America, more cocaine is being produced than ever before,” said Europol Director Catherine De Bolle in an interview last year with Der Spiegel.
She added: “The adaptability of criminal networks is high. They are always one step ahead of us.” Her comments came as European investigators observed new routes and smuggling tactics designed to evade detection.
Cocaine is trafficked to Europe by both sea and air, primarily via Colombia, Brazil and Venezuela. The Caribbean and West Africa are important transit areas, while Central America appears to be becoming more important. Cocaine is also trafficked via routes for other drugs, such as cannabis via North Africa and heroin through East Africa. Cocaine is smuggled into Europe in many ways, from air couriers and express packages to private yachts and jets. The use of maritime containers is of increasing concern. A huge array of concealment methods is used, including those that require chemical extraction.
“White Tsunami” of Cocaine Reaches European Ports
Authorities across southwestern Europe have warned of what they call a “white tsunami” - a surge in cocaine shipments arriving through Atlantic and Mediterranean routes. Just days before the Madeira seizure, Spanish police confiscated ten tons of cocaine in a separate case coordinated with Colombian officials.
Care for a share?
Comments