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🇫🇷 France /Crime & Justice

Massive 2.5-ton cannabis haul from Senegal seized at Le Havre port

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Customs officers seized 2.5 tons of cannabis resin hidden in metal containers at the port of Le Havre in late June.
  • The drugs, originating from Senegal and valued at approximately 20.5 million euros, were discovered in a container declared to be carrying machine tools.
  • This seizure is more than six times the volume of cannabis seized by sea in all of 2025, highlighting an unusual maritime route for drug trafficking.

French customs officers at the port of Le Havre intercepted a significant drug shipment in late June, seizing 2.5 tons of cannabis resin. The drugs were concealed within metal containers inside a larger container declared to be transporting machine tools.

This seizure is more than six times the volume of cannabis seized by maritime route over the entire year 2025.

— customsA statement from customs officials highlighting the magnitude of the drug seizure.

The value of the seized cannabis is estimated at around 20.5 million euros. Customs officials noted that this single seizure is more than six times the total volume of cannabis intercepted via maritime routes throughout the entire year of 2025, during which over 67 tons were confiscated.

This seizure is more than six times the volume of cannabis seized by maritime route over the entire year 2025.

— customsA statement from customs officials highlighting the magnitude of the drug seizure.

The container's unusual route, originating from Senegal and destined for Libya, raised suspicions. Scanner images revealed anomalies consistent with hidden compartments, prompting a detailed inspection. Hours of dismantling the heavy metal containers were required to access the illicit cargo.

anomalies compatible with the presence of goods hidden in specially designed compartments

— customsDescribing the findings from the scanner control that led to the discovery.

Customs authorities highlighted that maritime transport is a rare method for cannabis seizures, with the drug primarily arriving via land (74.8%) and postal services (15%). This operation underscores the evolving tactics of drug traffickers and the vigilance of customs in intercepting such large quantities.

installed on imposing metal containers

— customsDetailing the structure within which the drugs were hidden.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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