By Reuters Staff

       1 Min Read

       DAKAR (Reuters) - Senegal seized more than two tonnes of pure cocaine from a ship off its Atlantic coast, the navy said on Tuesday, in the West African country’s largest ever cocaine bust.

       The 2,026 kg of cocaine was found on a ship 363 km (226 miles) off the coast by naval forces backed by air support from the French air force, the navy said in a statement.

       The ship had five crew members aboard, it added.

       Drug smugglers typically use West Africa as a transshipment point for cocaine en route from South America to Europe

       In January, authorities in neighbouring Gambia seized nearly three tonnes of cocaine from a shipment of industrial salt originating in Ecuador.

       Morocco police on Monday seized one tonne and 335 kilograms of cocaine concealed in a container ship in Tangier Med Port.

       Reporting by Diadie Ba; Writing by Aaron Ross; Editing by Steve Orlofsky

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