Authorities Seize Record 30-Ton Cocaine Shipment Near Canary Islands
Spanish authorities have seized a freighter carrying an estimated 30 tons of cocaine near the Canary Islands, marking a potential record-breaking interception that highlights the increasing sophistication of maritime drug trafficking routes.
The recent seizure of a massive cocaine shipment near the Canary Islands marks a major shift in the battle against international drug trafficking. Authorities intercepted the freighter Arconian, which is estimated to be carrying 30 tons of narcotics. If confirmed, this would be the largest drug haul ever seized on the high seas along this route.
The operation, currently under a court-ordered gag order and led by the National Court, highlights the complex logistics used by criminal groups operating between Africa and Europe. The ship departed from Freetown, Sierra Leone, on April 22, supposedly bound for Libya. It was boarded on the night of May 1, about 200 miles off the coast of Tenerife, by elite units from the Civil Guard.
The security measures found on board were highly unusual. Among the 23 crew members arrested—17 Filipino navigation staff and 6 Congolese security personnel—agents discovered AK-47 and M16 assault rifles. This weaponry was stored in the bow, intended to protect the cargo from rival gangs looking to hijack the shipment.
Investigators believe the Arconian acted as a mobile logistics hub. Along with the drugs hidden in the hull, the ship carried extra fuel to supply smaller speedboats. The current theory is that the cargo was meant to be offloaded in smaller batches near the Canary Islands and the Strait of Gibraltar, then smuggled into Spain using these smaller vessels.
This incident highlights the increasing importance of the "African Route" for cocaine entering Europe. The use of large freighters equipped with armed security forces is forcing Spanish authorities to step up surveillance in the Atlantic. It also underscores the need for international cooperation to dismantle criminal networks that now operate with the same logistical sophistication as major shipping companies. The Arconian arrived at the port of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria last Sunday, where officials are now conducting a formal count and analysis of the seized drugs.