Nearly 2.5 tonnes of cannabis resin recently seized in Strait of Gibraltar by French Navy

Nearly two and a half tonnes of cannabis resin was recently seized in the area of the Strait of Gibraltar - by the French Navy.

According to a report in Europa Sur, the amphibious assault ship Dixmude was on an operational training deployment when it detected suspicious activity by a speedboat.

The French Navy sent a helicopter to contact the boat and order it to stop for an inspection.

When it refused, the French ship fired warning shots.

Europa Sur reports the speedboat's crew began to throw its cargo overboard - and that this was later recovered and found to contain 2.4 tonnes of cannabis resin.

In a statement, the French Navy said it operates continuously in the Atlantic and regularly carries out anti-drug trafficking operations to safeguard regional stability.