- French navy seized 9.6 tonnes of cocaine, worth $610 million (£540 million) off West Africa.
- Operation conducted by two French ships as part of Operation Corymbe.
- Seizure followed intelligence from French anti-drug agencies and the UK National Crime Agency.
- The Gulf of Guinea is a major transit point for South American cocaine headed to Europe.
- Since January 2025, 54 tonnes of drugs have been intercepted in the region.
- Historical context: The area was once the world’s piracy hotspot, leading Western navies to intervene.
- Record previous seizure: 10.7 tonnes in March 2024, the largest in West Africa.
French authorities have announced a staggering cocaine seizure off the coast of West Africa, with naval forces confiscating 9.6 tonnes of the narcotic, valued at approximately $610 million (£540 million).
The interception was carried out by two French navy vessels operating under Operation Corymbe, which has been deployed in the Gulf of Guinea since 1990 to secure the waters against piracy and illegal activities. Acting on intelligence from maritime authorities, anti-drug agencies, and the British National Crime Agency, the navy intercepted the haul from an unflagged fishing vessel on Monday.
The Atlantic Maritime Prefecture of France hailed the operation as a “remarkable seizure,” attributing its success to “seamless cooperation by national and international actors” in combating narcotics trafficking. This year alone, authorities have confiscated a total of 54 tonnes of drugs in the region.
The Gulf of Guinea, a critical transit point for cocaine shipments from South America to Europe, has seen multiple high-profile drug busts recently. Historically one of the most piracy-prone regions in the world, it now receives support from several Western navies to combat criminal activity.
Last year, the French navy recorded a 10.7-tonne cocaine seizure in March, marking the largest interception off West Africa’s coast to date, highlighting the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in curbing illegal drug trafficking.
