A major police sting has resulted in over 40 arrests of “narco-boat” smugglers who were trafficking cocaine from South America to the Canary Islands. The gang, dubbed “Operation Black Shadow”, used mother ships and speedboats to transport nearly 3,800 kilos of cocaine, as well as €100,000 in cash.
According to authorities, the network used a complex encrypted communications system to evade police, including satellite terminals, hard-to-trace phones, and coded language. The gang even converted an abandoned shipwreck into a refuelling platform for their speedboats.
The investigation involved international cooperation between law enforcement agencies from around the world, including Spain’s Policia Nacional. Twenty-nine houses were searched in Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote.
Spanish authorities confirmed that the gang specialized in smuggling large quantities of cocaine into Spanish territory using high-speed boats. The National Crime Agency (NCA) praised its international partners for their efforts to tackle drug trafficking across borders, ensuring it’s seized before it reaches the UK criminal supply chain.
Source: https://news.sky.com/story/more-than-40-narco-boat-drug-smugglers-arrested-in-major-police-sting-13380253