Large cocaine haul seized, 3 arrested after French authorities stop sailboat off Martinique
FORT-DE-FRANCE, Martinique _ French authorities have arrested three alleged drug traffickers and seized a haul of 2.2 tons of cocaine from a sailboat off the coast of Martinique.
Michael Lachaux is the French Caribbean island’s director of customs operations. He says two Spaniards and a Venezuelan were arrested aboard the allegedly drug-laden “Silandra” vessel on rough seas last week. Their names were not disclosed.
Simon Riondet of the French Caribbean office of the French police agency OCTRIS has estimated the street value of the drugs at $75 million.
Public Prosecutor Eric Corbaux has told reporters that the seized cocaine was destroyed Saturday.
Like other regional countries and territories, Martinique is considered a transshipment point for cocaine produced in South America and destined for illegal markets in North America and Europe.
The Associated Press
