Skip to content
Quick exit
  • Cymraeg
  • Reporting SARs
Leading the UK's fight to cut serious and organised crime
  • Who we are
    • Our mission
    • Our people
    • Our leadership
    • Governance and transparency
    • Inclusion, diversity and equality
    • Publications
  • What we do
    • What we investigate
    • Border vulnerabilities
    • Bribery, corruption and sanctions evasion
    • Cyber crime
    • Child sexual abuse and exploitation
    • Drug trafficking
    • Illegal firearms
    • Fraud
    • Kidnap and extortion
    • Modern slavery and human trafficking
    • Money laundering and illicit finance
    • Organised immigration crime
    • Operation Stovewood: Rotherham child sexual abuse investigation
    • How we work
    • Intelligence: enhancing the picture of serious organised crime affecting the UK
    • Investigating and disrupting the highest risk serious and organised criminals
    • Providing specialist capabilities for law enforcement
    • Supporting victims and survivors
  • News
    • All news
  • Careers
    • How to join the NCA
    • Applying and onboarding
    • Current vacancies
    • A day in the life
    • Benefits and support
  • Most Wanted
  • Contact us
    • Verify an NCA Officer
    • Complaints
  • Home >
  • News >
  • NCA plays crucial role in huge Atlantic cocaine seizure

Share this page:

Share this page:

News

NCA plays crucial role in huge Atlantic cocaine seizure

  • Drug trafficking
  • Intelligence

National Crime Agency officers have played a crucial role in an international operation that has seen 4.6 tonnes of cocaine seized on its way to Europe.

The haul, which had it been cut and sold in the UK would have had a street value in excess of £300 million, was discovered in bags (pictured below left) on board a Brazilian flagged 21 metre tug boat, after it was intercepted off the west coast of Africa (below right).

The operation came as a result of intelligence sharing between the NCA, US Drug Enforcement Agency and Brazilian Federal Police who have been working together to identify and combat criminal networks involved in drug trafficking between Brazil, Africa and Europe.Boat intercepted

Efforts to intercept the vessel were co-ordinated by the NCA working alongside the US, French and Europol authorities through the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre (Narcotics) in Lisbon.

The vessel was eventually boarded by the French navy in international waters around 400 miles off the coast of Sierra Leone on 30 November.

The crew, all Brazilian nationals, were detained and the cocaine was destroyed.

Seizure bags 2The investigation into the criminal groups involved on either side of the Atlantic is ongoing.

NCA International Deputy Director Tom Dowdall said:

“This was a huge haul of cocaine that was stopped in transit to Europe, and it is highly likely that a proportion of it would have ended up here in the UK, fuelling violence and further criminality.

“Intelligence from the NCA’s network of international liaison officers in South America was vital to the success of the operation, but it required a huge multi-national effort, and I’m grateful for the assistance of our Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group partners in the US, as well as Brazil, France, Europol and MAOC-N.

“Working with them we are determined to do all we can to disrupt and dismantle the international crime networks involved in this deadly trade.”

The Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group (FELEG) is made up of law enforcement from the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the USA. FELEG is a global coalition of agencies working together to tackle transnational crime.

7 December 2022

Latest from twitter

Share this page:

TOP ˄
0370 496 7622
NCA general enquiries or to verify an NCA officer, available 24/7
Click CEOP logo: Advice, Help, Report
  • Who we are

  • Our mission
  • What we do

  • How we investigate
  • How we work
  • News

  • Most wanted

  • Careers

  • A day in the life
  • Current vacancies
  • Contact us

  • Operation Stovewood
  • Suspicious activity reports
  • Verify an NCA officer
  • Complaints

Follow us

  • Sitemap
  • Privacy and Cookie Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Publications
  • Accessibility statement
© Crown Copyright
© Crown Copyright