Major Cocaine Bust: French Navy Seizes Nearly 10 Tonnes off West Africa

The French navy has seized nearly 10 tonnes of cocaine, worth $610 million (£540 million), off the coast of West Africa, French authorities announced.

Two French naval vessels, as part of Operation Corymbe, intercepted the massive cocaine haul from an unflagged fishing vessel on Monday following intelligence provided by maritime authorities, anti-drug organizations, and the British National Crime Agency.

Since 1990, the Corymbe naval mission has been deployed in the Gulf of Guinea to ensure security in an area notorious for piracy.

The French navy confirmed that 9.6 tonnes of cocaine has been intercepted by two French ships. The Atlantic Maritime Prefecture of France stated that this operation exemplified the seamless cooperation of national and international actors in combatting narcotics.

Notably, 54 tonnes of drugs have been taken from this region since the beginning of the year alone, pointing to the Gulf of Guinea's increasing role as a key transit point for cocaine trafficking from South America to Europe.

Historically, the Gulf has faced significant piracy issues, previously being recognized as the most dangerous region for maritime piracy, surpassing the notorious waters off Somalia. To combat these issues, multiple Western nations have deployed naval vessels to ensure maritime safety.

This recent drug seizure aligns with previous significant interceptions, including a record 10.7 tonnes of cocaine captured by the French navy in March of the previous year, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to disrupt the illegal drug trade in this pivotal maritime region.