Europe 1 with AFP 5:35 p.m., September 20, 2022
Ministers Bruno Le Maire and Gabriel Attal congratulated French customs after the seizure of 1.3 tons of cocaine on board a pleasure boat off Martinique.
Since January 1, seizures of this drug have been on the rise in France compared to the first half of 2021.
Customs seized 1.3 tonnes of cocaine on board a pleasure boat intercepted off Martinique on September 10, ministers Bruno Le Maire and Gabriel Attal announced on Tuesday, welcoming "an exceptional seizure".
This operation, carried out following a report, made it possible to locate a suspicious sailboat flying the Spanish flag and to note the presence of 47 bales of cocaine on board.
The boat was intercepted on the high seas, with the three crew members and the cargo, then brought back to Fort-de-France by the overseas support and assistance building Dumont D'Urville of the French Navy.
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"We congratulate French customs officers for this exceptional seizure of cocaine. This bears witness to the daily commitment of customs officers in the fight against drug trafficking and dangerous goods", declared in a press release the Minister of the Economy, of Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty and the Minister Delegate in charge of Public Accounts.
Between January 1, 2022 and July 31, 2022 French customs officers have already seized more than 73 tonnes of narcotics, compared to nearly 65 tonnes in 2021 over the same period.
Cocaine seizures by French customs have already increased by 94% compared to the first seven months of 2021.