French navy intercept cocaine ship

The French navy intercepted a ship carrying five tons of cocaine in the Atlantic today after shooting at the vessel to force it to stop. One of the ship’s crew members was injured.

The raid, involving several warships, surveillance aircraft and a naval commando unit, resulted from a long cooperation between US, Greek and Spanish services.

Police in Athens said the ship was owned by a Greek company and was carrying five tons of cocaine from Latin America to Europe.

The ship was being escorted to the French port of Brest.

The French navy first fired warning shots at the ship, and then later shot directly at it, as they sought to inspect its cargo.