Spain’s Largest Maritime Cocaine Seizure: Nearly 10 Tonnes Intercepted
Spanish authorities have made a historic drug bust, intercepting nearly 10 tonnes of cocaine aboard a merchant vessel off the Canary Islands. This operation, which took place last week, marks the largest drug seizure at sea in Spain’s history, with an estimated street value exceeding €100 million ($116.5 million). The operation was executed by Spain’s elite GEO unit, who boarded a Cameroon-flagged dry bulk ship approximately 332 miles west of the Canary Islands. The vessel was reportedly en route from Brazil to Europe, part of a larger multinational criminal network involved in the trafficking of significant quantities of cocaine from South America.
The police operation, named “White Tide,” was initiated based on intelligence regarding the criminal network’s activities. Upon boarding the vessel, officers discovered 9,994 kilograms of cocaine concealed within 294 bales, hidden beneath a substantial load of salt. Video footage released by the Policía Nacional shows officers digging through the salt to reveal the illicit packages. In addition to the cocaine, authorities also recovered a firearm that was likely used to protect the shipment. Thirteen crew members were arrested during the operation.
International Cooperation in Drug Trafficking Crackdown
The successful operation was the result of extensive collaboration among various international law enforcement agencies. Spanish police worked closely with Brazilian federal police, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the UK’s National Crime Agency, as well as French and Portuguese authorities. This cooperative effort underscores the global nature of drug trafficking and the need for coordinated responses to combat it.
Following the raid, the intercepted ship experienced a fuel shortage and drifted for approximately 12 hours before being towed into Santa Cruz de Tenerife by Spain’s maritime rescue service, SASEMAR. Spanish authorities emphasized that this seizure represents a significant blow to international criminal networks engaged in maritime cocaine trafficking. The operation highlights the increasing sophistication of smugglers, who are now using bulk cargoes to disguise illegal drugs during long-distance shipments.
Eight men jailed over Ireland’s largest ever cocaine seizure
Rising Cocaine Trafficking Trends in Spain
This recent seizure surpasses Spain’s previous maritime record of 7.5 tonnes of cocaine confiscated from a trawler in 1999. The scale of this operation reflects Spain’s critical role as a gateway for cocaine entering Europe. In a broader context, Spanish authorities reported seizing 123 tonnes of cocaine nationwide in 2024, a rise from 118 tonnes in 2023 and a significant increase from just 58 tonnes in 2022. The data indicates a troubling trend, with traffickers increasingly exploiting commercial shipping routes to transport drugs across the Atlantic.
As law enforcement agencies continue to adapt to the evolving tactics of drug traffickers, this operation serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenges in combating drug smuggling and the importance of international collaboration in addressing these issues.
