The French navy has seized nearly 10 tonnes of cocaine, worth $610 million (£540 million), off the coast of West Africa, French authorities have reported.
Two French naval vessels operating under Operation Corymbe intercepted this enormous cocaine haul from an unflagged fishing vessel on Monday, acting on intelligence from maritime authorities and the British National Crime Agency.
Operation Corymbe has been focused on ensuring maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea since 1990, a region grappling with issues of piracy.
9.6 tonnes of cocaine has been intercepted by two French ships, stated the French navy.
Since the beginning of the year, a total of 54 tonnes of drugs have been intercepted in the area. France's Atlantic Maritime Prefecture noted the successful cooperation among national and international agencies in combating narcotics trafficking, leading to this noteworthy seizure.
The Gulf of Guinea serves as a crucial transit point for narcotics, especially cocaine shipped from South America to Europe. This region has previously been recognized as one of the world's most hazardous for maritime piracy, surpassing even Somalia. Consequently, several Western nations have deployed ships to assist in addressing piracy issues in this area.
Earlier records highlight that the French navy seized 10.7 tonnes of cocaine in March last year, marking the largest interception of illegal drugs off West Africa's coast.
