Spain seizes 30 tons of cocaine in record European haul, detains 23 crew
Spanish authorities say the haul is Europe’s largest ever and was valued at more than €812 million, with 23 crew members detained without bail.
- On May 1, Spain's Guardia Civil intercepted the Comoros-flagged Arconian off the Canary Islands, seizing 30,215 kg of cocaine valued at more than €812 million .
- The seizure dwarfs the 25 tons recovered in Hamburg in June 2024 and doubles Spain's previous 13-ton record, underscoring escalating maritime cocaine trafficking into Europe.
- Authorities arrested all 23 crew members—17 Filipino and 6 Dutch nationals—with firearms and ammunition discovered aboard; the operation drew on Drug Enforcement Administration and Dutch national police intelligence.
- Spain's High Court remanded the crew without bail, citing flight risk and likelihood of further criminal activity; Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska emphasized the government's commitment to tackling drug trafficking.
- Investigators are examining links to Dutch organized crime networks, specifically targeting Jos Leijdekkers—known as Bolle "chunky" Jos—one of the Netherlands' most wanted criminals.
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Record 30-tonne cocaine haul seized from ship off Canary Islands is Europe’s biggest ever
Spanish police have seized 30 tonnes of cocaine from a ship off the Canary Islands and detained its 23-member crew without bail in Europe's largest-ever bust of the drug, more than doubling Spain's previous record.
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Spanish Interior Minister Grande-Marlaska already called it "one of the most important drug seizures, both nationally and internationally" on Monday. Today, he reported at a press conference that, after counting, the seizure indeed turns out to be the largest ever: the ship intercepted last week was carrying 30,215 kilos of cocaine, distributed across 1,279 packages. It was announced on Monday that the Guardia Civil had found a large quantity of…
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