The French Navy conducted a significant naval operation in the Caribbean and seized a little more than 10,5 tons of cocaine that was sailing to Europe, the Armed Forces of the Antilles (FAA) announced two days ago.
The cocaine was found on a fishing boat, which was intercepted by the French Navy approximately 660 nautical miles from Marineca.
The seizure is the second largest on the high seas, and is only slightly smaller than the seizure of 10,6 tons of cocaine by the same navy in March.
According to information from the Center for the Analysis and Coordination of Maritime Operations in the Fight against Narcotics (MAOC-N) based in Lisbon, the fishing vessel was sailing in front of the Caribbean with a significant amount of cocaine, most likely in the direction of Europe.
After this information was confirmed in close cooperation and data exchange with the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency (NCA), the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the French Navy and the French Office for the Fight against Drugs (OFAST), France the navy sent the patrol boat "La Confiance" to the Caribbean, which managed to intercept a vessel loaded with cocaine.
300 balloons were found on that ship, and testing determined that it was cocaine.
"In total, 160.552 kilograms of cocaine were found in the seized balloons, which is the second largest seizure by the French Navy," it was explained.
According to "Vijesti" information, the crew of the ship on which the drugs were found and confiscated consisted of six Brazilians, two Colombians and one Venezuelan, who were arrested and handed over to the competent authorities in Martinique.
Judicial authorities launched an investigation into organized drug smuggling and ordered the detention of nine arrestees.
"Vijesti" learned that the operation of the French Navy, carried out in cooperation with the British and American anti-narcotics agencies, was carried out in the night between August 14 and 15.
Bonus video:
