The French Navy intercepted 2.4 tons of cocaine aboard a Venezuelan fishing vessel in the Atlantic, 820 nautical miles (approximately 1,500 kilometers) northeast of Martinique, according to a statement by the armed forces in the Caribbean (FAA) on Monday, May 27th.
The operation, conducted by the crew of the frigate Ventôse, was initiated “based on intelligence provided by the general customs directorate,” in collaboration with the Office for Narcotics Control (OFAST).
Following a relocation phase facilitated by the embarked Panther helicopter, the military proceeded to board the vessel and seize 81 bales of cocaine, the statement detailed. The crew members and their illicit cargo were subsequently handed over to Venezuelan authorities. This marks the seventh drug seizure of 2024 for the FAA, bringing their total haul to over 12 tons of narcotics intercepted from distribution networks.
