A massive cocaine trafficking network that used high-speed boats to smuggle drugs from South America to the Canary Islands has been taken down in a coordinated international operation, police confirmed.
Nearly four tonnes of cocaine originating from Brazil and Colombia were seized, and 48 suspects were arrested during raids across Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote. Spain’s Policia Nacional said the group used 11 so-called narco boats in a sophisticated smuggling route across the Atlantic. The traffickers even repurposed an abandoned wreck at sea as a refueling station to extend their reach.
Dubbed Operation Black Shadow, the raids involved law enforcement agencies from across Europe—including the UK—as well as authorities in South America and the United States. The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) confirmed that a British citizen was among those detained.
According to Europol, the traffickers relied on high-speed vessels launched from key Atlantic points to connect with a mother ship carrying the cocaine. The group employed an advanced encrypted communication system using satellite terminals, untraceable phones, and coded language to stay ahead of authorities.
After months of planning, the raids led to the search of 29 properties and the seizure of 69 vehicles, including boats and jet skis. Authorities also recovered firearms and €100,000 in cash.
Spanish police described the operation as a major blow to international smuggling networks, calling it “one of the largest criminal organisations dedicated to cocaine trafficking” ever dismantled. Investigators also uncovered a local distribution network in the Canary Islands responsible for spreading the drugs after arrival.
Footage released by Spanish authorities showed armed officers storming properties, detaining suspects, and collecting evidence during the sweeping raids.
The Canary Islands, located about 100 kilometers (62 miles) off the west African coast, have long been a hotspot for transatlantic drug routes. In a related case in December, police intercepted a Venezuelan fishing vessel carrying 3.3 tonnes of cocaine. The boat, so worn down that it sank while being towed, had been 1,000 miles out to sea when discovered.
An NCA spokesperson commented on the latest crackdown, stating, “Alongside our international partners, we are relentless in our efforts to tackle drug trafficking across borders, ensuring it’s seized before it reaches the UK criminal supply chain.”
