Spanish authorities announced on Monday the confiscation of seven tons of cocaine concealed in shipping containers buried beneath a rural farm. Three suspects were arrested in connection with the bust.
The Civil Guard shared footage of the operation, which revealed officers digging up the ground to uncover dozens of packages containing the illicit substances.
The raid began on Friday after police spotted two suspicious speedboats at the Guadalquivir River’s mouth. Tracking the vessels led them to a property in Coria del Río, a rural area south of Seville, where the suspects had hidden the drugs in underground containers.
According to the Civil Guard, this represents the largest cocaine haul smuggled into southern Spain via speedboats. Alongside the drugs, officers seized three weapons, including an AK-47 assault rifle, and two stolen vehicles.
Spain’s geographic position makes it a prime entry point for drug trafficking into Europe, given its proximity to Morocco—a major cannabis producer—and its connections to former colonies in Latin America.
In recent months, Spanish authorities have intensified their crackdown on drug networks. Last month, a senior police officer was arrested after €20 million was discovered hidden in the walls of his home, linked to Spain’s largest-ever cocaine seizure.
In July, Spain collaborated with seven other countries to dismantle a significant trafficking ring that transported cocaine from Latin America to Europe. The operation led to 50 arrests, with 26 suspects detained in Spain.
31 December 2024
