Authorities in Spain shared on Monday that they had confiscated seven tonnes of cocaine hidden in sea freight containers beneath a farm and arrested three suspected smugglers. The police initiated the operation after noticing two suspicious speedboats near the Guadalquivir River. The boats led them to a rural estate in Coria del Rio, where the suspects had concealed the drugs in underground containers. This seizure marked the largest cocaine haul brought into southern Spain by speedboat. In addition to the drugs, three weapons, including an AK-47 assault rifle, and two stolen vehicles were seized.
Spain serves as a key entry point to Europe for drug traffickers due to its proximity to Morocco, a significant cannabis producer, and its historical connections with Latin American countries. Meanwhile, Portuguese authorities also intercepted nearly 3.5 tonnes of cocaine hidden in a banana shipment on a cargo ship from Latin America at the port of Setubal. The joint operation with Britain’s National Crime Agency uncovered the drugs amidst pallets of bananas, emphasizing the meticulous investigative work that led to the discovery. Although no arrests were made, the investigation is ongoing.