French authorities have announced a massive cocaine seizure at the northern port of Dunkirk after customs officers discovered nearly 3.9 metric tons of the drug concealed inside a shipment arriving from Ghana.

The cocaine has an estimated street value of about €225 million, or $261 million, making the operation one of France’s major narcotics interceptions this year.

According to French authorities, customs officers discovered 167 packages of cocaine hidden among plastic waste inside a shipping container. The shipment had arrived from Ghana and was reportedly intended, at least in part, to continue to the Belgian port of Antwerp.

The enormous quantity of cocaine has since been destroyed, while France’s national prosecutor for organized crime has opened an investigation into the international network suspected of being behind the shipment.

French judicial police were reportedly already targeting the alleged criminal network connected to the consignment before customs officers made the discovery.

Investigators are examining possible offences including the organized importation of narcotics and participation in a criminal association. Those offences could carry prison sentences of up to 10 years under French law.

The seizure comes as French authorities intensify efforts to combat international drug trafficking through the country’s ports. Official figures cited in reports show that French customs seized more than 31 tonnes of cocaine across the country in 2025.

The connection to Ghana is expected to attract significant attention, although authorities have not said the cocaine was produced in Ghana or accused Ghanaian authorities or citizens of involvement. The confirmed information is that the container carrying the drugs arrived from Ghana.

Investigations are continuing as French authorities attempt to identify the individuals and organizations responsible for moving the multimillion-dollar shipment across international borders.

The extraordinary seizure once again highlights the scale and sophistication of global cocaine trafficking networks and the increasing pressure facing European ports used by organized criminal groups.