In mid-December, a ship from the Navy intercepted a fishing vessel sailing without a flag in the Atlantic Ocean, in particularly difficult sea conditions. The intervention was part of the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances.
On board the suspect vessel, the boarding team quickly observed the presence of numerous hidden balesDuring the inspection, the captain presented documents indicating a registration in the Polish maritime registerwhile the Greek authorities were simultaneously informing France that the ship sailing under the Greek flagWith the agreement of the authorities of both countries, the full search of the boat has been authorized.
In total, 138 bales of cocaine were discovered, for a weight exceeding 4,2 tonnesThe individuals arrested, the vessel, and the cargo were taken to Fort-de-France, in accordance with French legal procedures. The investigation was entrusted to the Anti-Narcotics Office (OFAST) Caribbean, under the direction of the public prosecutor’s office of the specialized interregional jurisdiction of Fort-de-France.
Close cooperation between the French, Greek, and Polish services has enabled, in parallel, the arrest of five members of a criminal organization structured, including the network head. This major operation brings to more than 35,7 tonnes: the volume of narcotics seized this year by the French Navy in the Antilles region, illustrating the constant commitment of the armed forces and the State in the fight against international drug trafficking.
Source: Faxinfo https://faxinfo.fr/en/narcotrafic-plus-de-quatre-tonnes-de-cocaine-saisies-par-la-marine-nationale/
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