Seychelles applauds drug seizures by EU NAVFOR Atalanta mission |22 April 2022

President Wavel Ramkalawan has applauded the recent seizure of over two tons of drugs by French vessel Le Floréal as part of an EU NAVFOR Atalanta counter-narcotics operation in the western Indian Ocean between April 14-18, 2022.

“Since the beginning of this operation, Seychelles pledged its full support to ensure maritime security in the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking and other crimes. We are proud to be associated with the successful operations of the French surveillance frigate Le Floréal. One of the boats captured was only 200 nautical miles from Victoria, indicating that these drugs were destined for Seychelles. Seychelles will continue to cooperate with its international partners in the fight against drugs,” President Ramkalawan said yesterday in a press release.
The frigate Floréal, under Atalanta’s command, successfully carried four consecutive drugs seizures in the international waters while engaged in counter-piracy patrol. As a result, she seized close to 1.400kgs of heroin, 1.200kg of methamphetamines and 25kg of hashish worth 50 to 60 million euros in wholesale value and more than 200 million euros (236 million US dollars) in street value in Europe (according to the data of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime – UNODC).

These four consecutives seizures happened when Le Floréal was heading northbound, following the Smack Track, one of the drugs routes in the Western Indian Ocean, which connects the northern coast of the Arabian Sea to the Southern-Eastern African Coast, to eventually end up on the European markets.

While the number of drug users in Africa is estimated to rise by 40% by 2030 according to the UNODC, these four drugs interdiction operations in only five days off the coasts of Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania – an unprecedented event in the area – prove that the fight against drug trafficking is more necessary than ever.

Press release from State House / EU NAVFOR