Spanish Authorities Seize Record 45-Ton Cocaine Shipment Near Canary Islands
Spanish authorities have seized the Arconian near the Canary Islands, uncovering one of the largest drug busts in the nation's history with an estimated 30 to 45 tons of cocaine linked to a major international criminal network.
The seizure of the Arconian near the Canary Islands is a major blow to international drug trafficking and reveals the complex logistics used by criminal groups along the Atlantic route. The National Court has ordered the 23 crew members to be held without bail; they face charges of belonging to a criminal organization and trafficking dangerous substances.
With an estimated 30 to 45 tons of cocaine on board, this is one of the largest drug busts in recent Spanish history. The Civil Guard intercepted the ship last Saturday as it traveled from Sierra Leone toward Benghazi, Libya. Although the crew was armed with assault rifles and semi-automatic pistols, officers managed to secure the ship without any shots being fired.
The operation was highly organized. The Filipino crew members handled navigation, while the Angolan and Dutch crew members were responsible for security and guarding the cargo. The drugs—roughly 1,500 bales weighing 25 to 30 kilograms each—were hidden in the ship’s holds. Experts estimate the street value of the haul to be between 600 and 900 million euros.
Investigators believe the Arconian was acting as a "mother ship," intended to transfer the drugs to smaller speedboats near the Canary Islands. The narcotics were likely destined for the Strait of Gibraltar, from where they would be distributed across Andalusia and the rest of Europe.
The investigation has turned its focus toward Joseph Johannes Leijdekkers, known as Bolle Jos, one of Europe’s most wanted fugitives. Leijdekkers has spent the last 18 months in Sierra Leone and has a history of smuggling large quantities of cocaine into the ports of Rotterdam and Antwerp. Authorities are currently offering a 200,000-euro reward for information leading to his arrest, as he faces a 40-year prison sentence.
The Arconian arrived at the Port of Las Palmas last Sunday and remains under guard at a naval base. The Civil Guard is continuing its search and technical analysis of the vessel to further dismantle the criminal network behind the shipment.