French navy seizes nearly 10 tonnes of cocaine off West African coast
Haul valued at about $610 million intercepted by two French ships under Operation Corymbe in the Gulf of Guinea
The French navy intercepted 9.6 tonnes of cocaine off the West African coast, authorities said Monday. Two French naval vessels operating under Operation Corymbe stopped the cargo from an unflagged fishing vessel in the Gulf of Guinea after a tip-off from maritime intelligence, anti-drug authorities and the British National Crime Agency. The seizure is valued at about $610 million.
France's Atlantic Maritime Prefecture said 54 tonnes of drugs have been intercepted in the region since the start of the year. The Gulf of Guinea has become a key transit point for cocaine originating in South America and destined for Europe, a pattern that has persisted despite intensified policing in regional waters. Piracy in the Gulf of Guinea, once considered the world's most dangerous area for maritime crime, remains a concern for international security efforts and shipping alike.
The Corymbe mission has been deployed by France in the Gulf of Guinea since 1990 to help ensure regional security amid ongoing piracy and other illicit trafficking. The region has seen a string of large drug seizures in recent months, including a record interception of 10.7 tonnes in March last year, underscoring the scale of the illicit trade moving through West Africa's maritime lanes. Western partners have repeatedly pledged cooperation to disrupt trafficking networks and protect shipping.
The Atlantic Maritime Prefecture hailed the seizure as the result of 'seamless cooperation by national and international actors' and said the operation demonstrates the ongoing effectiveness of joint policing along the Gulf of Guinea. The authorities did not immediately provide details on arrests or on the vessel’s identity, and inquiries by the police and naval authorities were ongoing.
The Gulf of Guinea continues to be a focal point for illicit trafficking, with law enforcement and naval forces from several countries renewing patrols and sharing intelligence to curb drug flows and piracy. Officials say coordinated, international responses remain essential to stabilizing the region’s crowded sea lanes and reducing the risk to commercial shipping and local communities.
Observers note that the scale of recent seizures reflects both the volume of trafficking and the ongoing challenge of monitoring an expansive maritime zone. The 9.6-tonne interception is among the largest in the region in recent years, reinforcing calls for continued multinational cooperation and sustained naval presence in West Africa’s waters.
