Major Franco-Spanish Drug Seizure in the Mediterranean
In a significant operation, over two tonnes of cannabis pollen were seized on Saturday, June 15, in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Catalonia. This joint effort between French and Spanish authorities marks one of the most substantial drug seizures in the region by French officials in recent years, according to a press release from the Mediterranean prefecture published on Monday, June 17.
The operation unfolded when a French customs helicopter, operating in Spain, identified a 'go-fast' loaded with drugs early in the afternoon on June 15. The suspicious vessel was observed to be waiting for an unloading order off the Catalonia coast. Upon receiving this crucial information, a joint Franco-Spanish task force was swiftly coordinated. The response included a French customs patrol boat, which stealthily approached the suspect vessel, and three fast Spanish speedboats along with a Spanish helicopter.
As the evening approached, the green light for intervention was given. The traffickers, realizing they were being cornered, began to flee and tossed drug packages into the sea. However, the well-synchronized efforts of the Franco-Spanish operation managed to recover 'almost all of the goods' thrown overboard. A total of 61 bales, equating to 2.44 tonnes of cannabis pollen, were successfully retrieved and subsequently handed over to the Spanish authorities.
Despite the deteriorating weather conditions and nightfall posing challenges, the efficient coordination between the French and Spanish forces ensured that the mission was largely successful. The Mediterranean prefecture praised the collaboration, noting it as an example of excellent cross-border coordination.
- This major interception underlines the ongoing battle against drug trafficking in the Mediterranean region and highlights the importance of international cooperation in tackling such transnational crimes. The record seizure by French authorities in the Mediterranean was previously set at 4.2 tonnes of cannabis resin, underscoring the scale and significance of this latest operation.
- The recovered drugs have a substantial market value and their seizure is a significant blow to the trafficking networks operating across the Mediterranean. Such operations send a strong message to traffickers about the heightened vigilance and strengthened collaboration between neighboring countries in curbing drug smuggling.
