Atlantic Ocean Drug Seizure: French Navy, with US and Partner Nations, Captures 2.373 Tons of Cocaine Off Madeira
The team disabled the vessel's engines with gunfire after resistance, conducted a search, and arrested the crew, transferring them to Portuguese custody.
ATLANTIC OCEAN — On October 17 and 18, the French Navy, supported by the United States and allied nations, executed an operation seizing 2.373 tons of cocaine from a go-fast boat 70 nautical miles off Madeira.
The team disabled the vessel’s engines with gunfire after resistance, conducted a search, and arrested the crew, transferring them to Portuguese custody. The cargo, valued at over 128 million euros, was intercepted before reaching European markets.
This action underscores ongoing multinational cooperation. Earlier in 2025, operations included a September 22 seizure of 9.6 tons in the Gulf of Guinea with U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) support, valued at 519 million euros, and a January 10 intercept of 9 tons off Martinique from a Turkish-flagged ship.
French forces surpassed 45 tons by mid-2025, with cumulative seizures reaching 54 tons by late August and 54.1 tons by late September, as reported by MAOC-N, with a yearly total of 71 tons.
The operation demonstrated effective collaboration among forces from France, the United States, Spain, Portugal, and the United Kingdom. A French Navy surveillance frigate identified the target, leading to a Falcon 50 aircraft deployment for monitoring.
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