Spanish authorities have reported the country's largest cocaine seizure to date, amounting to 13 tons. The operation unfolded in the southern port of Algeciras on October 14, where police and customs agents intercepted the narcotic concealed within a container ship that had sailed from Guayaquil, Ecuador. This city is recognized as a significant hub for drug trafficking. The cocaine was ingeniously hidden in crates of bananas, featuring boxes designed identically to those carrying the fruit. The Spanish national police were alerted to the operation based on intelligence received from Ecuadorian law enforcement.
An individual, believed to be associated with the importing company, has been detained in Toledo, central Spain. Meanwhile, two additional suspects remain at large. Spain's geographical and historical connections with Latin America, alongside its proximity to Morocco, a leading cannabis producer, position it as a primary gateway for narcotics entering Europe. This incident underscores the ongoing challenge of drug smuggling within commercial shipments, a tactic not unique to Spain but observed across Europe. Previous instances include the UK's discovery of over 12,500 pounds of cocaine in a banana shipment and the Netherlands seizing 17,600 pounds of cocaine in Rotterdam, both surpassing prior records for drug hauls in those countries.
Source: CBS News