Spain police break up cocaine smuggling network using containerships

Spanish police have dismantled a major international cocaine smuggling network that exploited containerships to move drugs into Europe, reports The Maritime Telegraph . The investigation uncovered three closely linked criminal groups connected to the Balkan Cartel. Together, they organized cocaine shipments from Colombia, concealing the drugs inside containers loaded onto regular commercial services bound for European ports.

 

Authorities say the network relied on a mix of maritime tactics to extract cocaine before vessels reached shore. One of the most striking methods involved so-called “monkeys” – young, physically strong swimmers hired to access ships at sea. These individuals retrieved cocaine directly from containers in European waters, reducing the risk of detection in port.

 

The investigation intensified last summer after several containerships reported security breaches near Spain and Portugal. In one case, a vessel sailing to Cadiz raised the alarm when crew members spotted intruders on deck. When police intervened, at least three suspects escaped by jumping overboard, leaving behind 38 bales of cocaine that had already been removed from containers. The seizure totaled 1,355 kilograms of the drug.

 

A separate incident in Portuguese waters involved armed stowaways carrying rifles. Investigators say the suspects attempted to take control of the ship and succeeded in offloading several cocaine bales hidden in containers before fleeing the scene.

 

Police also confirmed that the criminal groups used high-speed boats to intercept merchant vessels, recover cocaine thrown overboard, and force open containers while ships were underway. In some cases, crew members or accomplices were reportedly overpowered during these operations.

 

The coordinated law enforcement action included 19 raids across multiple locations, resulting in 30 arrests. Officers seized nearly 2.5 tonnes of cocaine, along with firearms, vessels, navigation equipment, real estate assets, and cryptocurrency holdings linked to the network. Spanish authorities worked closely with international partners during the operation, with Europol supporting intelligence sharing and coordination, as noted by Europol in its statement on maritime drug trafficking.

 

The case follows another high-profile operation last week, when Spain intercepted almost 10 tonnes of cocaine aboard a bulk carrier off the Canary Islands. That seizure, confirmed by Spain’s Guardia Civil, marked the largest maritime cocaine bust in the country’s history and highlighted the growing use of commercial shipping lanes by organized crime.

 

Picture: A Carrasco Ragel / EPA