Keypoints:
- 9.6 tonnes of cocaine seized
- Operation Corymbe intercept off West Africa
- $610m street value estimated
THE French navy has intercepted nearly 10 tonnes of cocaine worth an estimated $610 million off the coast of West Africa, officials confirmed on Tuesday.
Two French naval vessels, operating under Operation Corymbe, halted an unflagged fishing boat on Monday after receiving intelligence from French maritime authorities, international anti-drug agencies and the UK’s National Crime Agency.
Tip-off leads to swift action
‘A total of 9.6 tonnes of cocaine was seized by two French ships,’ the French navy said, noting the drugs were discovered hidden on the fishing vessel. France’s Atlantic Maritime Prefecture praised the ‘seamless cooperation by national and international actors’ that enabled the operation, calling the seizure ‘remarkable’.
The bust adds to a total of 54 tonnes of illegal drugs confiscated in the Gulf of Guinea since the start of 2025, underscoring the region’s role as a critical transit route for South American cocaine bound for Europe.
Key West African transit route
The Gulf of Guinea, stretching along the western African coastline, has become a significant corridor for narcotics traffickers. While once notorious for piracy—at times more dangerous than the waters off Somalia—the area is now a frontline in the fight against global drug smuggling. Western navies, including France’s, have maintained a presence there for decades to bolster maritime security.
Operation Corymbe has been running since 1990, providing regular patrols to deter piracy and combat trafficking. The latest seizure follows a record 10.7-tonne cocaine haul by the French navy in March 2024, which remains the largest drug interception off West Africa.
French officials said investigations are continuing into the fishing vessel’s origin and those responsible for the shipment.
