A total of 1.8 tons of cocaine was seized on Tuesday from a speedboat off the coast of the island of Saint-Martin in the French Caribbean, according to sources familiar with the matter. The seizure took place Tuesday afternoon, when the boat, which had no name or registration, docked at a pontoon in the municipality of Marigot in the French part of the island. Once the speedboat, a type favored by drug traffickers, was docked, its occupants immediately fled and have not been found. An investigation has been entrusted to the anti-narcotics office in Saint-Martin to identify the means used by the traffickers to escape.
Inside the boat, several dozen packages of cocaine, totaling 1.8 tons, were found by local police. The prosecutor’s office in Basse-Terre, Guadeloupe, has taken over the investigation. Searches are ongoing to identify how the traffickers managed to flee. In 2022, authorities intercepted a total of 27.7 tons of cocaine, a 5% increase from the previous year and a five-fold increase over the past decade. The main route for cocaine to enter France is by sea, accounting for 75.4% of the quantities seized, totaling 16.3 tons. Over half (55%) of the cocaine seized in 2022 came from the Caribbean and French Guiana, serving as a transit zone before reaching mainland France.
The seizure of a large quantity of cocaine highlights the ongoing issue of drug trafficking through the Caribbean to reach Europe. The speedboat used in this case is a common choice among drug traffickers due to its power and speed. The authorities are now focused on tracking down the individuals who fled the scene and investigating the origins of the seized drugs. With cocaine seizures on the rise in recent years, law enforcement agencies are being challenged to prevent illicit substances from entering the country through maritime routes.
The investigation into the drug trafficking operation has been handed over to the anti-narcotics office in Saint-Martin, who are working to identify the ways in which the traffickers managed to escape capture. The significant amount of cocaine seized indicates the scale of the drug trade in the region and the challenges faced by law enforcement in combating it. The increase in cocaine seizures in recent years underscores the need for continued efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks and prevent illicit substances from reaching their intended markets.
The authorities in the region are continuing their efforts to combat drug trafficking and prevent illegal substances from entering the country. The significant quantities of cocaine seized off the coast of Saint-Martin demonstrate the scale of the problem and the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in addressing it. As investigations continue and efforts to disrupt drug trafficking networks intensify, the hope is to stem the flow of illicit drugs and prevent further harm to communities affected by drug abuse and related crimes.
