Trending 
Spanish authorities have intercepted what could become one of the largest cocaine seizures ever recorded, following the capture of a vessel in the Atlantic Ocean carrying an estimated 35 to 40 tonnes of the drug.
The operation, led by the Civil Guard, took place in international waters off the Canary Islands, marking a significant development in Europe’s ongoing fight against organised drug trafficking.
According to sources from the AUGC union, the ship was stopped on Friday, leading to the arrest of approximately 20 individuals on board.
Preliminary inspections indicate that the vessel’s hold was “completely stuffed” with cocaine, with officials describing the seizure as “historic.” The final confirmed quantity is expected after detailed examination in the Canary Islands, where the vessel has been taken for further investigation.
The ship reportedly departed from Freetown, the capital of Sierra Leone, and was en route to Benghazi in Libya.
However, investigators have questioned the plausibility of Libya as the final destination for such a large shipment. Union sources noted that “the unloading of this volume of cocaine in Libya doesn’t make much sense,” suggesting instead that the cargo was likely intended for transfer onto smaller vessels for distribution across Europe.
They added that “many vessels would be needed, because such an unloading in a single port would arouse a lot of suspicion,” indicating coordination by sophisticated international trafficking networks.
Spain’s Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, described the operation as “one of the biggest, not only nationally but internationally,” underscoring its global significance. However, due to a court-imposed confidentiality order, authorities have released limited operational details.
Spain remains a critical gateway for narcotics entering Europe, owing to its geographic position and strong maritime links with Latin America and North Africa.
The country has recorded multiple large-scale seizures in recent years, including a 13-tonne haul in 2024 at Algeciras port and another maritime interception of nearly 10 tonnes earlier this year.
This latest operation reinforces concerns about the scale and sophistication of transnational drug trafficking networks operating along European routes.
