In a significant crackdown on drug trafficking, authorities seized nearly half a tonne of cocaine as part of Operation White Sea VI, a multinational initiative involving 14 countries. Spanning from June to July 5, 2026, the operation unearthed 454 kilograms of cocaine that had been dropped into the sea for retrieval by smaller vessels. The operation, spearheaded by Belgian Customs and supported by Frontex and Danish Customs, involved months of meticulous surveillance of drug traffickers in the Atlantic and northern waters.
Operation White Sea VI was a key component of EMPACT, the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats, focusing on cannabis, cocaine, and heroin. In addition to monitoring open waters, authorities scrutinized coastal regions and the English Channel, conducting regular patrols and inspections at major seaports to intercept smuggling activities. Criminals were known to employ various tactics, such as dropping drugs at sea to evade port checks or using smaller inflatable boats to facilitate discreet transfers.
The operation concluded with the arrest of five individuals, and a total of 117 ships were inspected while 691 were monitored. Frontex played a vital role by deploying surveillance assets in both air and water, tracking suspicious vessels and coordinating ground teams for inspections. With over 20 officers collaborating at Frontex headquarters in Warsaw, the mission successfully revealed that the predominant smuggling technique into Europe involves dropping drugs from cargo ships into the ocean for collection by smaller boats. This strategic approach enabled authorities to apprehend traffickers before the drugs reached European shores.
