Spain Seizes Nearly 10 Tons of Cocaine in Largest-Ever Maritime Bust, Arrests Entire Crew
Spanish authorities announced Monday the largest cocaine seizure ever made at sea by the Spanish National Police, intercepting a Europe-bound container ship in the Atlantic Ocean carrying nearly 10 metric tons of the drug. The Cameroon-flagged vessel, which had departed from Brazil, was boarded last week after investigators uncovered a massive cocaine shipment hidden inside a cargo of industrial salt. Police seized 9,994 kilograms (22,033 pounds) of cocaine packed into 294 individual bundles, according to an official statement. All 13 crew members were arrested at sea. Authorities also recovered a firearm allegedly used to protect the shipment.
Multinational Operation Targets Transatlantic Drug Route
The operation, dubbed “White Tide” involved coordinated action from law enforcement agencies in Spain, the United States, Brazil, the United Kingdom, France, and Portugal. Agents from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration were present during the interdiction, according to video released by Spanish police. Footage published on social media shows officers approaching the vessel by speedboat, escorting suspects into custody, and digging through massive piles of salt to uncover the concealed cocaine packages.
“This operation represents the largest cocaine seizure on the high seas ever made by the National Police,” Spanish police said in a statement.
Ship Disabled, Towed to Canary Islands
Police said the vessel ran out of fuel following the raid and was left drifting in open water for nearly 12 hours before being towed to the Canary Islands for further processing. Authorities described the seizure as a significant disruption to international drug trafficking networks that rely on maritime routes to move cocaine from South America into Europe.
“This represents a decisive blow to international criminal networks involved in maritime cocaine trafficking,” police said.
“It demonstrates the effectiveness of international police cooperation in the fight against global drug trafficking.”
Spain Remains a Key Entry Point for Drugs Into Europe
Spain’s geographic position with strong historical ties to Latin America and close proximity to North Africa has long made it a primary gateway for narcotics entering Europe. Criminal networks frequently exploit Atlantic shipping lanes and ports to move large-scale cocaine shipments.
The latest bust follows a series of major seizures in recent years:
• In October, Spanish police intercepted 6.5 tons of cocaine off the Canary Islands after receiving a U.S. intelligence tip.
• In June 2025, authorities dismantled a trafficking ring that used high-speed “narco boats” to ferry cocaine from Brazil and Colombia, allegedly refueling at an abandoned shipwreck.
• In 2024, police seized 13 tons of cocaine from a container ship arriving at the southern port of Algeciras from Ecuador the largest single cocaine haul in Spanish history.
Monday’s announcement now resets that record and underscores the scale of drug trafficking operations still targeting Europe by sea.
