On January 12, Spanish police and the navy carried out a historic operation in the Atlantic Ocean, making one of the largest cocaine seizures ever in the open sea. Nearly 10 tons (9,994 kg) of cocaine were found on a cargo ship sailing under the Cameroonian flag and heading to Europe.
According to reports, the drugs were very “carefully” hidden among a salt shipment and packed in a total of 294 bundles/bags. Investigators note that the vessel departed from Brazil and the cargo was being transported to Europe.
It was reported that after the operation the ship ran out of fuel and was left stranded at sea for nearly 12 hours. Spain’s maritime rescue service then towed the vessel to the Canary Islands (the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife).
Police said a multinational organized criminal network was behind the case, involved in shipping large cocaine consignments from South America to Europe. Footage shows officers shoveling through the salt, pulling out cocaine bundles and then carrying them to the pier.
The estimated street value of the seized drugs is put at around €400 million. A firearm was also found on board, and 13 crew members were arrested.
The operation, dubbed “White Tide,” involved Spanish police along with the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre (MAOC-N), the U.S. DEA, the UK’s NCA, Brazil’s Federal Police, Spanish intelligence services, and officials from France and Portugal. Spain called it a “historic blow” to international drug-trafficking networks.
Spain is considered one of the main “gateways” for drug flows into Europe due to its close ties with Latin America. For example, it was also reported that in 2024 the country seized 13 tons of cocaine from a container ship arriving from Ecuador.
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