Spanish authorities have apprehended three individuals suspected of retrieving cocaine from a merchant ship’s sea chest off Las Palmas, marking yet another incident in a series of drug busts in the Canary Islands—a region that has become a notable transit point for the cocaine trade from South America to Europe.
The operation was initiated by Spain’s Guardia Civil, which had raised suspicions about a supply boat that routinely serviced anchored vessels in the Las Palmas harbor. During an inspection, officers discovered a large suitcase containing numerous packets of cocaine, which led to a more extensive search of the supply boat. This search yielded diving equipment, indicative of preparations for smuggling operations involving access to a ship’s hull.
Following this discovery, a specialized unit from the Guardia Civil was deployed to investigate the merchant vessel from which the cocaine was allegedly retrieved. A dive team successfully located another wrapped package, containing cocaine bricks, in the sea chest of the vessel.
Overall, authorities seized a total of 72 kilograms of cocaine, valued at over $2.5 million in the European market. The arrested individuals, along with the confiscated drugs, were forwarded to a criminal court in Las Palmas for prosecution.
This incident follows a recent operation across the Canary Islands that resulted in the capture of four tonnes of cocaine, approximately $114,000 in cash, and the arrest of 48 individuals. Authorities claim that this smuggling network utilized a fleet of 11 speedboats to collect cocaine from sea vessels and transport it to the islands. Their operations involved sophisticated communication methods, including encryption, coded language, and satellite technology.
The recurrent drug busts in the region highlight the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in combating the cocaine trade, which has overwhelmed local resources and transformed the Canary Islands into a critical node in the drug supply chain between South America and Europe.
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