Fort De France, Martinique – March 4, 2024
French naval vessels Le Germinal and La Combatante have intercepted and seized a staggering 8.3 tonnes of cocaine during patrols in the region.
According to reports, one of the three seizures occurred on the high seas off Martinique, underscoring the strategic efforts of maritime surveillance to combat illicit drug trade in the area.
The surveillance frigate Le Germinal accounted for the lion’s share of the haul, confiscating over 6 tonnes of cocaine, while La Combatante seized an additional 2 tonnes, reflecting the French Navy’s commitment to curbing narcotics smuggling.
A statement from the Forces Armées Aux Antilles Facebook page emphasized the government’s resolute determination to combat drug trafficking, heralding the recent seizures as a testament to the state’s unwavering stance against criminal activities in the Caribbean and the Atlantic.
Highlighting the importance of international and inter-ministerial cooperation, the Facebook post attributed the success of the operations to close collaboration between various agencies and nations.
Reports from Martinique media detailed the offloading of dozens of bales of cocaine seized by La Combattante from a sailboat earlier in the week. Two days prior, the frigate Le Germinal returned to base with a substantial cache of over 6 tonnes of cocaine retrieved from two fishing vessels.
As authorities move forward with investigations, several suspects are currently in custody and are expected to face trial in the near future.
