In a significant crackdown, police authorities across the Canary Islands have successfully neutralized a sophisticated drug smuggling operation that spanned the Atlantic Ocean.
Major Cocaine Smuggling Syndicate Crushed in Canary Islands Raids
Major Cocaine Smuggling Syndicate Crushed in Canary Islands Raids
A coordinated international operation led to the dismantling of a major cocaine trafficking network in the Canary Islands.
The article text:
A major cocaine smuggling ring that utilized a fleet of speedboats to transport drugs from South America to the Canary Islands has been dismantled, according to police reports. Nearly four tonnes of cocaine originating from Brazil and Colombia were seized in the crackdown, which resulted in the arrest of 48 individuals across Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote.
Spain's Policia Nacional confirmed that the criminals employed a network of 11 so-called narco boats to illicitly ferry the drugs across the ocean, employing a deserted shipwreck at sea as a refueling point in their operation. This extensive operation, named Operation Black Shadow, was meticulously orchestrated with cooperation from law enforcement agencies in the UK, South America, and the US. Among the arrested was a British national, as confirmed by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA).
Europol reported that the drug trafficking gang utilized speedboats "repeatedly," departing from strategically chosen locations in the Atlantic Ocean towards a mother ship carrying the cocaine cargo. Investigators detailed the use of a sophisticated encrypted communication system that included satellite terminals, hard-to-trace phones, and a coded vernacular to evade law enforcement detection.
The operation involved months of strategic planning, leading to the search of 29 properties and the seizure of 69 vehicles, which included boats and jet skis. During these raids, cash and firearms were also recovered, underscoring the scale of the operation. Spanish authorities indicated that this initiative had successfully dismantled one of the largest drug trafficking organizations in the region.
Included in the haul were approximately €100,000 (£84,000/$114,000) in cash and firearms. The Canary Islands, a notable Spanish territory and a favored tourist hotspot situated about 100 km (62 miles) off the coast of West Africa, has been previously linked to significant cocaine intercepts. Noteworthy is an incident last December when a Venezuelan fishing boat was intercepted 1,000 miles out to sea, revealing a cargo of 3.3 tonnes of cocaine before the vessel sank during towing.
An NCA representative commented on the recent crackdown, emphasizing that the agency, in collaboration with international partners, remains unwavering in its efforts to combat cross-border drug trafficking, ensuring that narcotics do not infiltrate the UK's criminal supply chain.
A major cocaine smuggling ring that utilized a fleet of speedboats to transport drugs from South America to the Canary Islands has been dismantled, according to police reports. Nearly four tonnes of cocaine originating from Brazil and Colombia were seized in the crackdown, which resulted in the arrest of 48 individuals across Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote.
Spain's Policia Nacional confirmed that the criminals employed a network of 11 so-called narco boats to illicitly ferry the drugs across the ocean, employing a deserted shipwreck at sea as a refueling point in their operation. This extensive operation, named Operation Black Shadow, was meticulously orchestrated with cooperation from law enforcement agencies in the UK, South America, and the US. Among the arrested was a British national, as confirmed by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA).
Europol reported that the drug trafficking gang utilized speedboats "repeatedly," departing from strategically chosen locations in the Atlantic Ocean towards a mother ship carrying the cocaine cargo. Investigators detailed the use of a sophisticated encrypted communication system that included satellite terminals, hard-to-trace phones, and a coded vernacular to evade law enforcement detection.
The operation involved months of strategic planning, leading to the search of 29 properties and the seizure of 69 vehicles, which included boats and jet skis. During these raids, cash and firearms were also recovered, underscoring the scale of the operation. Spanish authorities indicated that this initiative had successfully dismantled one of the largest drug trafficking organizations in the region.
Included in the haul were approximately €100,000 (£84,000/$114,000) in cash and firearms. The Canary Islands, a notable Spanish territory and a favored tourist hotspot situated about 100 km (62 miles) off the coast of West Africa, has been previously linked to significant cocaine intercepts. Noteworthy is an incident last December when a Venezuelan fishing boat was intercepted 1,000 miles out to sea, revealing a cargo of 3.3 tonnes of cocaine before the vessel sank during towing.
An NCA representative commented on the recent crackdown, emphasizing that the agency, in collaboration with international partners, remains unwavering in its efforts to combat cross-border drug trafficking, ensuring that narcotics do not infiltrate the UK's criminal supply chain.
