Spain's National Police and customs officials have intercepted a 13-ton cocaine consignment in Algeciras, camouflaged within a banana shipment originating from Ecuador, aiming for a fruit company in Alicante. This operation marks the largest cocaine seizure on Spanish territory, surpassing the previous record of 9.5 tons, also in Algeciras. In the backdrop of a burgeoning security crisis in Ecuador, a notable hub for cocaine exportation, this incident underscores the strategic use of legitimate fruit exportation businesses by criminal networks for smuggling purposes. Antonio MartÃnez Duarte, from Spain's National Police, highlighted the strategic shift of the Albanian groups to Ecuador for procuring cocaine, leveraging the fruit export sector as a facade for their operations across Europe, with Spain serving as a critical entry point. The ongoing inquiry has led to one arrest, with further suspects under investigation. This seizure is part of a broader trend observed in European ports, where a significant portion of drug interceptions occur, as noted in the 2023 European Drug Report, highlighting the pivotal role of these ports in the continental drug trafficking landscape.
Source: El PAIS