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Europe's Largest Cocaine Haul: 30 Tons Seized by Spanish Police Off Canary Islands

From Aftenposten · (5h ago) Norwegian Critical tone

Translated from Norwegian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Spanish police seized 30 tons of cocaine from a cargo ship off the Canary Islands, marking Europe's largest-ever cocaine bust.
  • The seizure, valued at approximately 8.9 billion Norwegian kroner (812 million euros), led to the arrest of the ship's entire 23-person crew.
  • The operation was a collaboration between Spanish, U.S., and Dutch authorities, surpassing previous European records for cocaine seizures.

In a landmark operation, Spanish authorities, in cooperation with U.S. and Dutch law enforcement, have intercepted a staggering 30 tons of cocaine aboard the cargo ship Arconian off the Canary Islands. This monumental seizure, valued at an estimated 8.9 billion kroner, represents the largest cocaine bust in European history, shattering previous records. The entire crew of 23 individuals has been apprehended in connection with the find, which included not only the illicit drugs but also weapons and ammunition.

Skipet Arconian ble stoppet av spanske myndigheter 1. mai. Hele mannskapet på 23 personer ble pågrepet.

— AftenpostenDetails of the ship's interception and the arrest of its crew.

The Arconian, stopped on May 1st, was allegedly en route to mainland Spain, with investigators suspecting the cocaine was to be transferred to high-speed boats. Among those arrested, 17 are from the Philippines, while six were found hiding onboard and are from the Netherlands and Suriname. This international collaboration highlights the global nature of drug trafficking and the coordinated efforts required to combat it.

Lasten er verdsatt til over 812 millioner euro, tilsvarende rundt 8,9 milliarder kroner, ifølge en spansk domstol.

— AftenpostenThe estimated value of the seized cocaine.

This bust significantly eclipses previous records, including a 25-ton seizure in Germany in 2024 and a 13-ton find in Spain previously. The sheer volume of cocaine confiscated underscores the persistent challenges faced by law enforcement in disrupting major drug smuggling networks. For Spain, a key entry point for drugs into Europe, this success is a significant victory, demonstrating its commitment and capability in combating international organized crime.

Det ble funnet våpen og ammunisjon om bord, og seks av mannskapet ble funnet mens de gjemte seg da myndighetene kom om bord.

— AftenpostenAdditional findings during the search of the ship.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Aftenposten in Norwegian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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