Major Cocaine Trafficking Operation Unraveled in the Canary Islands

Spanish police, with assistance from international agencies, executed raids across the Canary Islands targeting a powerful cocaine trafficking network. Nearly four tonnes of narcotics were confiscated, alongside numerous arrests, revealing the complex methods used by drug gangs to manage their operations.

In a significant crackdown on international drug trafficking, Spanish authorities have successfully dismantled a large cocaine smuggling operation that transported drugs from South America to the Canary Islands. The operation, which involved the use of an intricate network of speedboats, resulted in the seizure of nearly four tonnes of cocaine and the arrest of 48 individuals across the islands of Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote.

Police from Spain, along with European partners including the UK, and international agencies such as Europol, coordinated the raids under Operation Black Shadow. These efforts highlighted the sophistication of the gang, which was said to have employed 11 so-called narco boats to transport drugs across the Atlantic. Notably, they utilized an abandoned shipwreck as a refueling point, showcasing the lengths to which they went to evade detection.

Authorities revealed that the gang had devised a complex encrypted communication system, which enabled them to elude law enforcement through satellite terminals, untraceable phones, and even coded language. In total, the raids resulted in the search of 29 properties, the seizure of 69 vehicles—including boats and jet skis—and the recovery of cash and firearms.

The Spanish National Police emphasized that this operation had effectively disrupted one of the largest criminal networks dedicated to cocaine trafficking in the region. Moreover, they uncovered a local distribution network within the Canary Islands responsible for disseminating the drugs once they arrived from South America.

Footage released by the police depicted armed officers conducting tactical raids, arresting suspects, and securing evidence. This operation follows previous successful interceptions of large cocaine shipments intended for the Canary Islands, a territory well-known for its tourism, located approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) off the coast of West Africa.

In a statement, a spokesperson from the UK's National Crime Agency remarked on the collective effort to combat cross-border drug trafficking, emphasizing their commitment to preventing such drugs from entering the UK’s criminal supply chain. In December, authorities struck a similar blow against narcotics smuggling when they intercepted a Venezuelan fishing boat containing 3.3 tonnes of cocaine, which ultimately sank during retrieval efforts.

This recent wave of enforcement actions underscores the ongoing battle against drug trafficking operations actively exploiting the lucrative European market.