This took place on 17 January 2021 during a “patrol in the Atlantic Ocean” according to the official statement. It has to be noted however that Germinal is based in Fort-de-France, in the French island of Martinique. The vessel belongs to the “forces armées aux Antilles” (French armed forces in the Caribbean).
“The intervention of Germinal, conducted in accordance with international law, confirmed the presence of suspicious cargo. 177 bales tested positive for cocaine. They were seized and destroyed. The eight crew members apprehended were handed over to the administrative and judicial authorities of their country” the official statement added.
Florence Parly, French Armed Forces Minister said on Twitter:
The record for a cocaine seizure by the French Navy dates back to 2006 with 4.3 tons. Such a volume corresponds to a market resale value of around 130 million euros in France. This operation is a real blow for traffickers, I am pleased to say.
