Spanish police, in partnership with international agencies, conducted a series of raids that dismantled a vast cocaine smuggling operation across the Canary Islands. Using speedboats and complex communication methods, the gang was intercepted while trafficking drugs from South America.
Major Cocaine Trafficking Network Dismantled in the Canary Islands
Major Cocaine Trafficking Network Dismantled in the Canary Islands
A collaborative international operation has led to the seizure of nearly four tonnes of cocaine and the arrest of 48 suspects in the Canary Islands, marking a significant blow to drug trafficking.
A significant cocaine smuggling operation has been effectively dismantled in the Canary Islands following a coordinated series of raids conducted by law enforcement authorities. Spanish police, alongside international agencies, arrested 48 individuals and seized nearly four tonnes of cocaine trafficked from Brazil and Colombia. This operation highlights the extensive and sophisticated networks that drug trafficking organizations use to transport narcotics into Europe, a prime market for South American cartels.
The operation, dubbed "Operation Black Shadow," involved police forces from across Europe, the UK, South America, and the US, which worked in unison to disrupt the criminal activities. Utilizing 11 speedboats, the gang transported cocaine across the Atlantic, employing a derelict ship as a refueling station. Authorities described the gang's communication as "complex and encrypted," involving satellite systems and coded language to evade detection.
These well-coordinated raids spanned across Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote, involving searches of 29 properties, the seizure of 69 vehicles, including boats and jet skis, as well as cash and firearms. The operation has successfully neutralized one of the largest criminal organizations dedicated to cocaine trafficking in the region.
The bust follows previous interceptions of substantial drug loads targeting the Canary Islands, known for its tourist appeal and strategic geopolitical location off the coast of West Africa. In December, a fishing vessel carrying 3.3 tonnes of cocaine was seized 1,000 miles from shore, underscoring the ongoing efforts by law enforcement to combat the drug trade in this vital area.
