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Spain seizes record amount of cocaine in Atlantic Ocean, authorities say
Spanish Civil Guard intercepted a freighter in international waters off the Canary Islands, seizing between 30,000 and 45,000 kg of cocaine and arresting about 20 people. The vessel had come from Sierra Leona and was headed to Libya, with indications the drugs could be offloaded to smaller vessels for distribution in Europe. A January 2026 seizure of almost 10 tonnes at sea is cited as a previous record.
Why It Matters
The interception marks what authorities describe as a historic blow to drug trafficking and highlights ongoing international efforts to curb large-scale cocaine shipments and potential European distribution networks.
Timeline
2 Events
May 1, 2026: Interception of freighter off Canary Islands with record cocaine haul
May 1, 2026
The Civil Guard intercepted a freighter in international waters off the Canary Islands. Authorities found between 30,000 and 45,000 kg of cocaine in the hold and approximately 20 people were arrested. The vessel had travelled from Sierra Leona and was on its way to Libya. The AUGC described the seizure as a historic blow to drug trafficking. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska called it one of the biggest seizures, both nationally and internationally. The Civil Guard released a photograph on X showing the drugs in the hold. Officials said the seizure, intercepted in international waters, is the largest known to date on a freighter. Observations noted that the pattern of past operations suggests the drugs could be offloaded onto smaller vessels for distribution in Europe.
January 2026: Spain's previous largest cocaine-at-sea seizure
January 2026
In January 2026, Spanish authorities carried out what was described as the country’s biggest seizure of cocaine at sea, on a ship carrying almost 10 tonnes.