Spanish Guard Seizes Record 41 Tons of Cocaine in Two Maritime Operations

Spain's Civil Guard has executed two monumental operations in the Atlantic Ocean, dismantling major international drug trafficking networks and seizing a staggering amount of narcotics. The combined haul includes over 41 tons of cocaine and 8.5 tons of hashish, with one single seizure of 30 tons of cocaine setting a new world record for a police operation. Minister of the Interior Fernando Grande-Marlaska hailed these actions as a "resounding and decisive strategic advance against transnational organized crime."

The first operation, codenamed Alfa-Lima, conducted between April 13th and 26th, involved multiple interventions across the ocean, the Canary Islands, and mainland Spain, including the Guadalquivir River. This operation alone resulted in the confiscation of nearly 11 tons of cocaine, 8.5 tons of hashish, 21 kilograms of marijuana, and approximately 30,000 liters of gasoline, leading to 54 arrests. International cooperation was key, with contributions from the Spanish Navy, Customs Surveillance, Portugal's National Republican Guard, and Italy's Guardia di Finanza.

The second operation, Abisal, which concluded on May 1st, led to the interception of the vessel 'Arconian' laden with 30 tons of cocaine. Minister Grande-Marlaska indicated the vessel originated from West Africa, though the primary source of the drugs was not specified, and its final destination was not necessarily Spain. Intelligence suggests the 'Mocro Maffia,' a network of criminal organizations based in the Netherlands involved in introducing large quantities of cocaine and synthetic drugs into Europe, is behind this trafficking. These successful operations underscore Spain's strategic position and commitment to combating organized crime, showcasing its capability to execute large-scale interdictions far beyond its shores.

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Más allá del éxito operativo, ambas operaciones muestran nuestra capacidad para dar un salto estratégico de calado en la forma de abordar la lucha contra el crimen organizado transnacional