National Police Agents, working closely with the Tax Office Customs Surveillance, halted a drug-smuggling operation at sea in the Atlantic. On board a sailboat with a three-person crew, investigators uncovered a stash of six tons of marijuana heading toward the southwestern coast of Spain. This action marks a significant blow to organized crime networks trafficking narcotics by water, according to police reports issued this Tuesday. The operation, codenamed Bibi after the vessel, represents a decisive strike against East European crime rings involved in maritime drug trafficking.
The sailboat, after an extended search, was located roughly 130 miles off the coast of Huelva. The three crew members were taken into custody, and authorities confirmed that the vessel had loaded the illegal cargo at a point along the Moroccan coastline with plans to deliver the drugs into Spain. The interception demonstrates the ongoing challenges of cross-border crime and the importance of international cooperation in countering drug trafficking by sea, according to statements from law enforcement sources. [Citation: National Police and Tax Office Customs Surveillance]
Authorities began investigating in early 2021, when security forces identified one of the most active criminal groups in Spain as preparing to acquire a sailboat for use in maritime drug operations. The inquiry expanded as officers connected the dots between the group, the vessel, and planned routes across the Atlantic toward the Levantine coast, where the operation was to be centered before the cargo would be moved toward Europe. [Citation: Joint law enforcement briefing]
International cooperation played a crucial role in the case. The United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency and Italian authorities shared intelligence and coordinated actions against the organization under scrutiny, enabling a timely interception. The collaboration underscores how cross-border police work strengthens the ability to disrupt criminal networks with transnational reach. [Citation: UK NCA and Italian authorities]
According to investigators, the Bibi—believed to be Maltese-flagged—set course for Italy in February and then redirected toward Spain the following month. The operation used the Levantine coast as a base of operations before the cargo was loaded in Africa; subsequently, the crew intended to return to Spain to complete the drug shipment after a final stop on the Moroccan coast. Europe remains a major corridor for narcotics entering from southern routes, a pattern that law enforcement continues to monitor closely. [Citation: Maritime crime intelligence report]
After departing Spain, the crew headed toward the point of origin to recommence loading, planning a renewed voyage to bring the narcotics into European markets. The operation illustrates how sea routes through the Iberian Peninsula continue to be exploited by traffickers seeking discreet, long-range transport. The authorities’ interception occurred in Atlantic waters, where agents recovered the six tons of marijuana, along with a drone, security cameras, and a radio frequency detector used to scout for surveillance and interference. [Citation: Interagency incident report]