Spain Dismantles Major Cocaine Smuggling Network Using Containerships
Spain has broken up a large international cocaine smuggling network that exploited global container shipping routes, The Maritime Telegraph reports. Investigators identified three coordinated criminal groups linked to the Balkan Cartel, which moved cocaine from Colombia to Europe by concealing it inside containers on commercial containerships.
Authorities revealed that the network relied on aggressive at-sea tactics to extract drugs before vessels reached port. A key role was played by so-called “monkeys” – trained swimmers tasked with boarding ships in European waters and retrieving cocaine directly from containers.
The probe gained momentum last summer after multiple security breaches were reported near Spain and Portugal. In one case, a containership heading for Cadiz detected intruders on deck. Police later recovered 38 bales of cocaine that had already been removed from containers. The total seizure reached 1,355 kilograms.
A separate incident in Portuguese waters involved armed suspects who attempted to seize control of a containership and offload cocaine before fleeing. Investigators also confirmed the use of fast boats to intercept vessels, collect drugs thrown overboard, and force open containers while ships were underway.
The operation concluded with 19 raids and 30 arrests. Nearly 2.5 tonnes of cocaine were seized, along with weapons, vessels, navigation equipment, real estate, and cryptocurrency assets linked to the network. The case underscores a wider trend highlighted by Europol, which has warned about organized crime’s growing reliance on commercial shipping lanes.
The crackdown follows another major case last week, when Spanish authorities intercepted almost 10 tonnes of cocaine aboard a bulk carrier near the Canary Islands – the largest maritime drug seizure in the country’s history.
