Another Brazilian “Tapouille” Intercepted in French Guiana

On 17 September, the patrol vessel La Confiance intercepted the Brazilian “Tapouille”. The sailboat SEMEADOR 2 with 8 people on board was fishing illegally in French territorial waters.

In the face of violent resistance, the intervention team had to use its non-lethal weapons. As the vessel had already been reported from the air for the same offence last December. The Director-General for Territorial and Maritime Affairs ordered it to be diverted to Cayenne.

The captain of the Tapouille is a repeat offender, having already been prosecuted in 2021 following the diversion of the ship Comte Antonio. One of the crew members, who was formally identified as violent, was taken into custody by the maritime police in Cayenne. The other crew members were expelled.
A request for the destruction of the Tapouille has been sent to the magistrate in charge of liberty and detention.