French Navy

French naval forces have intercepted a vessel carrying hundreds of kilograms of cocaine in the Caribbean and handed the shipment over to authorities in Barbados, as Paris steps up pressure on international drug trafficking networks.

The operation, announced by France’s Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin, shows growing concern about the scale of cocaine flows moving through the Caribbean and into Europe. The seizure comes amid broader efforts by France, the United States, and regional partners to disrupt supply routes and curb organised crime tied to the trade.

Vautrin said about 678 kilograms of cocaine were recovered during the interception. The …