A major cocaine smuggling operation that used speedboats to transport drugs from South America to the Canary Islands has been dismantled by Spanish police. Almost four tonnes of cocaine, trafficked from Brazil and Colombia, was seized during a coordinated raid across Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote. Authorities arrested 48 suspects, including a British national.
The operation, dubbed Operation Black Shadow, involved international cooperation between European, South American, and US law enforcement agencies. Police found that the gang used an encrypted communication system to evade detection, employing satellite terminals, hard-to-trace phones, and coded language.
Spanish police said the raids were months in the planning and resulted in 29 properties searched, 69 vehicles seized, including boats and jet skis, as well as cash and firearms recovered. The investigation revealed a complex network of distribution, with local actors responsible for delivering cocaine to markets in the Canary Islands.
This latest bust highlights the intricate methods used by international drug smuggling gangs to smuggle narcotics into Europe’s major market. Authorities emphasize their continued efforts to disrupt such networks and seize contraband before it reaches the UK criminal supply chain.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yezgd8p3wo