In a significant bust, authorities dismantled a major cocaine smuggling operation in the Canary Islands, seizing four tonnes of drugs and apprehending 48 individuals. The operation revealed intricate networks used by traffickers and involved global police cooperation.
Major Cocaine Smuggling Operation Dismantled in the Canary Islands
Major Cocaine Smuggling Operation Dismantled in the Canary Islands
Coordinated raids lead to the seizure of nearly four tonnes of cocaine and the arrest of 48 suspects linked to a complex trafficking network.
A large-scale cocaine trafficking organization has been dismantled following coordinated police raids across the Canary Islands, leading to the seizure of almost four tonnes of cocaine and the arrest of 48 individuals. This operation, which has been dubbed Operation Black Shadow, stemmed from a sophisticated network using speedboats to transport narcotics from South America. Police reported that the drugs—originating from Brazil and Colombia—were delivered via a series of 11 so-called "narco boats," utilizing a strategically abandoned wreck as a refueling point in the Atlantic Ocean.
In this extensive operation, law enforcement agencies from Europe, the United Kingdom, South America, and the United States collaborated to execute the raids. Investigators from Europol noted that the gang employed a sophisticated encrypted communication system to avoid detection, which included satellite terminals, hard-to-trace mobile phones, and a unique coded language.
Spanish authorities detailed the meticulous planning involved, indicating that police searched 29 properties, seized 69 vehicles—ranging from boats to jet skis—and recovered cash and firearms. €100,000 in cash, along with weapons, was confiscated during the operations. The police emphasized that they had dismantled one of the largest criminal organizations dedicated to cocaine trafficking in the region, and they also pinpointed a local distribution network within the Canary Islands responsible for offloading the narcotics from South America.
Footage released by Spanish police showcased armed officers executing raids, making arrests, and conducting extensive searches. The recent bust underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement in intercepting drug shipments destined for Europe, a significant market for South American drug cartels. This is not an isolated incident; previously, authorities intercepted substantial quantities of cocaine, including a Venezuelan fishing vessel carrying 3.3 tonnes of the drug which was discovered adrift at sea.
The operation illustrates the complexities of international drug smuggling and the determined efforts of global law enforcement to tackle the issue.
