The French navy has seized nearly 10 tonnes of cocaine, valued at $610 million (£540 million), off the coast of West Africa, French authorities have reported.
Two French naval vessels participating in Operation Corymbe intercepted this massive drug haul from an unflagged fishing vessel on Monday. The operation was the result of intelligence gathered from maritime sources, anti-drug authorities, and the British National Crime Agency.
Operation Corymbe has been deployed by France in the Gulf of Guinea since 1990, aiming to ensure security in a region notable for piracy incidents.
9.6 tonnes of cocaine has been intercepted by two French ships, stated the French navy.
Since the beginning of the year, authorities revealed that 54 tonnes of drugs have been intercepted in the area. France's Atlantic Maritime Prefecture cited seamless cooperation by national and international actors as critical to this remarkable seizure.
The Gulf of Guinea serves as a major transit hub for the illegal drug trade, particularly cocaine being shipped from South America to Europe.
This region, previously recognized as the world's most perilous maritime piracy area, has prompted multiple Western countries to deploy ships to combat piracy.
A record seizure of 10.7 tonnes of cocaine was accomplished by the French navy in March of last year, marking the largest interception in the illegal drug trade off West Africa.
