Fed-up Europeans use sniper fire to stop narco traffickers on new ‘cocaine highway’

A French navy sniper struck a high-speed smuggling vessel carrying 2.5 tonnes of cocaine off the western African coast in October, marking the first instance of European military forces using direct fire to intercept drug-trafficking vessels, according to European officials and counternarcotics authorities. The strike, conducted from a helicopter, disabled the boat's engines and halted its progress, preventing the illicit cargo from reaching European shores. This operation highlights a growing shift toward more aggressive tactics in the battle against transatlantic drug trafficking. The incident took place hundreds of miles from the European coastline, where smugglers have transformed a stretch of the Atlantic Ocean into a new “cocaine highway.” This route, stretching off the western shores of Africa, has become a critical artery for cocaine moving from South American production hubs to European markets. Smugglers employ fast-moving “go-fast” boats equipped with powerful engines capable of evading most coast guard vessels. These vessels often operate in coordinated flotillas, supported by supply ships that provide fuel and provisions to crews waiting for their illicit cargo. European antidrug officials are pushing for broader legal authority to enable more militarized countermeasures, including the use of sniper fire and other forceful tactics. This proposal comes amid concerns over the increasing volume of cocaine entering Europe and the difficulty of stopping these sophisticated smuggling networks. According to confidential documents reviewed by multiple European media outlets, the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre (MAOC) has called for the use of force during maritime pursuits, including engine-disabling actions and shooting. French maritime officials have endorsed these recommendations, citing a lack of sufficient naval resources to intercept all but a small fraction of the drug-smuggling vessels. The proposed expansion of military tactics contrasts with the strategies employed by the Trump administration, which classified drug cartels as terrorist organizations and authorized missile strikes on suspected smuggling vessels in the Caribbean. These U.S. operations have resulted in the destruction of at least 67 boats and the deaths of 221 individuals, though critics argue they often lack evidence of narcotics being onboard and may violate international law. Western security officials have expressed concern over the legality and effectiveness of such methods. Despite these differences, European officials acknowledge the need for stronger measures to combat the surge in cocaine supplies. After years of efforts to intercept drug shipments at major European ports such as Rotterdam and Hamburg, smugglers have adapted by offloading large quantities of cocaine in the Atlantic before approaching European waters. They distribute the drugs to smaller, harder-to-track vessels that follow GPS signals to hidden drop-off points along remote coastlines and inlets. The situation has reached unprecedented levels, with officials describing the current state of maritime drug trafficking as akin to a post-apocalyptic scenario. Dimitri Zoulas, head of France’s national anti-narcotics agency OFAST, likened the activity to the film Mad Max, stating it represents a phenomenon never before seen on this scale in Europe. Recent seizures underscore the severity of the issue. In May, Spanish civil guards intercepted 30 tonnes of cocaine destined for Europe, highlighting the scale of the challenge. While officials have emphasized the need for more robust enforcement, they have also cautioned against adopting extreme measures similar to those used in the Caribbean. One unnamed Spanish official noted that such actions remain outside the scope of current operations, even as pressure mounts for greater intervention.