It seized the drugs with an estimated value of 50 million euros after its frigate Guepratte spotted the dhow on December 27, the Indian Ocean Maritime Command said in a statement.

Part of the illegal drugs shipment was "probably intended for the European market", said the command based in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates.

The French ship was operating as part of the multinational mission Naval Task Force 150 aimed at strengthening regional security and combating illicit trafficking.