Every week, the French Navy’s fusiliers marins patrol the seas to combat drug trafficking. Here’s how a drug bust at sea operation unfolds :
In March 2024, the French Navy made a record seizure of over 10 tons of cocaine (10,693 kg), with an estimated market value of around 695 million euros. This haul represents nearly a third of the total weight of drugs seized by the French military in 2023.
In the waters of the Indian Ocean, a strategic zone often used by traffickers, the French Navy plays a key role in the fight against drug trafficking. These high-risk drug bust operations require meticulous coordination and preparation by the crew and specialized teams aboard military vessels.
Identification and detection of the sailboat
It all begins aboard the French Navy ship, where the operations center (CO) is responsible for monitoring the surroundings using radar and listening to radio communications. These tools help detect “dhow” traditional boats often used by traffickers to transport drugs. The CO can also receive information from the NCIS (Naval Criminal Investigative Service), which frequently collaborates with the French Navy on these missions. Once a dhow is identified, the entire crew goes into “combat” mode, with everyone taking their assigned positions for the operation.
The investigation team : role division and preparation
The intervention on a suspect dhow is carried out by a boarding team composed of fusiliers marins, numbering around ten and divided into three sub-teams with distinct missions :
- The command team, responsible for supervising the operation and managing administrative and communication aspects.
- The PROTEC team, tasked with securing the dhow’s crew, searching them, questioning them, ensuring their well-being, and creating a safe area where they are grouped together.
- The investigation team, which is the first to board the boutre. They are responsible for searching the ship for drugs and other illicit goods.
Each sub-team includes a fusilier marin, ensuring armed protection at every stage of the intervention.
The assault
During the assault, two scenarios are possible : either the traffickers detect the approaching military and throw their cargo overboard to avoid seizure, or the teams approach undetected. In the latter case, the military can close in on the boutre and establish radio contact with its captain. The captain is ordered to state the number of people on board and to gather them at the front of the boat, visible to the military teams.
A ladder is then placed between the two vessels to allow the military to board. At this point, the investigation team takes action, followed closely by the PROTEC team and the command team.
The search and seizure
The ship’s search focuses on holds and other potential hiding spots, such as false walls or floors concealing drugs. Any discoveries are meticulously documented, photographed, and filmed using the portable cameras worn by the team members.
What happens to the seized goods ?
Once the drugs are seized and identified by a specialized officer, they are transferred aboard the military vessel for weighing. The goods are then destroyed by incineration.
If no resistance was encountered, the dhow’s crew is released, free to continue their journey, though without their illegal cargo.
Operations essential to maritime security
The French Navy’s anti-drug operations are complex missions that illustrate France’s commitment to the fight against drug trafficking. This zero-tolerance strategy not only protects the nation’s interests but also contributes to global maritime security.
