Spain’s National Police have dismantled a significant maritime smuggling operation after a year-long investigation, resulting in over 100 arrests and the seizure of more than 10 tonnes of cocaine. The Central Drug and Organized Crime Unit (UDYCO) asserts that this disruption could “destabilize” the criminal organization, although its leader remains at large. The operation revealed a complex transatlantic crime network utilizing speedboats, burner phones, and sophisticated electronic devices for drug trafficking.
The smuggling ring was adept at retrieving cocaine from smaller vessels up to 1,000 miles offshore, delivering it to bases along the Rio Guadalquivir and other regional rivers. Their activities spanned the Iberian Peninsula and beyond, including areas from Galicia to Morocco and the Canary Islands. Police conducted raids at 49 locations, predominantly in Lanzarote and Gran Canaria, confiscating 70 vehicles, 30 boats, six properties, and a variety of communication and navigational equipment.
Despite their efforts to conceal operations through encryption and coded language, the gang’s extensive network facilitated the transport of an estimated 57 tonnes of cocaine into Europe in 2025 alone. The high-speed pursuits also posed risks; incidents of crashes during operations have occurred, including a fatal incident on the Guadalquivir River, which led to a significant payout to silence the victim’s family.
