Spain seizes record cocaine haul from Atlantic freighter
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 4
Spain seizes record cocaine haul from Atlantic freighter
14 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 4
The Civil Guard said 30,000-45,000kg were found off the Canary Islands on Friday and about 20 people were arrested aboard a vessel travelling from Sierra Leone to Libya.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska called it one of the biggest seizures nationally and internationally, while investigators withheld further details for legal reasons.
Authorities said the operation aimed to disrupt trafficking, with the cargo believed destined for transfer to smaller boats for distribution in Europe; Spain's previous biggest maritime cocaine seizure was nearly 10 tonnes in January.
What intelligence or technology enabled Spanish authorities to pinpoint and intercept the Arconian’s record cocaine cargo amid thousands of ships at sea?
How are international criminal networks adapting their routes and methods to exploit weak maritime oversight and global trade channels for massive drug shipments?
Operation White Tide (April 2026): Spain's Historic 9,994 kg Cocaine Seizure and the Fight Against Maritime Trafficking
Overview
In April 2026, Spanish authorities led Operation White Tide, seizing nearly 10 tons of cocaine hidden in salt aboard the drifting cargo ship United S. This historic bust involved close international cooperation with agencies from the US, Brazil, UK, France, and Portugal, coordinated through MAOC-N. The operation led to the arrest and prosecution of all 13 crew members and confirmed the cocaine's origin in Brazil. Large-scale seizures like this disrupt trafficking routes, causing traffickers to adopt new concealment methods such as underwater 'parasites' and semi-submersibles. In response, Spain plans to deploy AI-equipped patrol ships and emphasizes focusing enforcement on transit zones near EU borders to counter evolving smuggling tactics.