In yet another operation to disrupt a smuggling attempt, the French Navy’s frigate Germinal (F735) seized 220 kg of cocaine.
The operation, triggered as part of an investigation by the DNRED of Fort-de-France, was conducted on April 17 off the Antilles. The drug was on its way from Guyana to an unknown destination.
With the assistance of its helicopter and US Customs and Border Protection’s maritime surveillance aircraft P-3C Orion, a suspicious fishing vessel with the Guyana flag was detected and intercepted about 350 nautical miles east of the Caribbean Arc. After conducting a search aboard the vessel, Germinal’s team discovered five packages containing 220 kg of cocaine.
The French Navy operates regularly in the Caribbean, together with other agencies such as Customs, OCRTIS and Gendarmerie as well as with foreign partners, to suppress drug trafficking in the area.
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Naval Today Staff, Image: French Navy