Civil Guard dismantles a criminal network accused of smuggling more than 6.5 tons of cocaine hidden inside banana shipments from South America, through the port of Algeciras in Cadiz. The operation resulted in thirteen detainees in Cadiz province.
During what authorities called the Squid operation, searches were carried out at multiple residences in Algeciras, Malaga and Castellar de la Frontera, as well as two industrial warehouses in Algeciras and Antequera. The Civil Guard reported seizures of about 1.5 million euros in cash, several high value watches, tools, and a large batch of electronic devices used to shield the organization from police scrutiny.
The investigation began in October 2022 when officials identified a drug trafficking network. The organization was led by a Malaga based drug lord, with a key lieutenant in Campo de Gibraltar tied to a prominent Castellar de la Frontera family. The group allegedly used a wholesale frozen fish business in Algeciras to launder proceeds from illicit activity.
According to the Civil Guard, the organization sought to move large quantities of cocaine in sea containers from South America while seeking to avoid law enforcement through public sector complicity. The method involved transporting cocaine shipments in banana containers from Colombia and Ecuador, departing from Algeciras and then diverted to a nearby shipyard to swap safe palettes with those used for legitimate banana trade.
Frustrated shipments in Colombia
In December, the network attempted to send a banana container from Turbo, Colombia to Algeciras. The vessel was stopped in Cartagena, and authorities seized approximately 3,000 one-kilo cocaine packets along the way. In another bid, smugglers tried sending a second batch from Cartagena toward Vigo; the aim was to unload cocaine in Algeciras and transfer it to a maintenance vessel. That shipment, totaling around 1,250 kilograms, was blocked again by Colombian authorities.
During May, authorities intercepted more than four tons of cocaine linked to the same network. The group reportedly planned a fresh shipment from Guayaquil, Ecuador, to Algeciras to dodge prior seizures in Colombia. Upon arrival, a truck driver allegedly moved the container to a warehouse area in Antequera, Malaga. Officers entered the ship and recovered 2,296 kilograms of cocaine hidden among banana pallets, leading to seven arrests. Searches of the homes of principal members uncovered about 1.5 million euros in cash, luxury vehicles, valuable watches, and numerous electronic devices used to blunt police investigations.
233 million euro worth of drugs
The operation resulted in the seizure of around 6,500 kilograms of cocaine valued at more than 233 million euros on the illicit market, along with about 1.5 million euros in cash. The investigation was conducted by the Algeciras Command, in coordination with the Civil Guard Central Operations Unit and Europol.
Other international agencies contributed to the effort, including the United States Department of Homeland Security, the Colombian National Police Anti-Narcotics Directorate, and officials from Latvia. The operation also involved a Special Response Unit and the Civil Guard’s Rapid Action Group to conduct searches of homes and warehouses during the enforcement phase.
These actions illustrate a broad, cross-border effort to stem trafficking networks and highlight how criminal organizations exploit legitimate trade channels to move large quantities of illegal drugs. The case underscores the importance of international collaboration in dismantling organized crime and safeguarding border security.