National police agents, in a coordinated operation with the Spanish navy, intercepted a vessel carrying 50 bales and 1,500 kilograms of cocaine. The sailboat, en route to the Spanish coast in international waters, was halted after a high‑risk confrontation that put the crew and people on board in danger. The vessel ultimately sank in the open sea, leaving authorities to recover the seized cargo and arrest four crew members. The incident underscores a deliberate attempt to move illegal drugs by sea and to exploit maritime routes in the Atlantic.
The operation involved multiple international partners. The Special Drug Enforcement Prosecutor coordinated the move, collaborating with the British agency NCA, American and Italian authorities, CITCO, and the Lisbon-based MOC-N. This crackdown targets criminal organizations and their leaders who smuggle drugs by sea in the East, marking the sixth ship captured in a five‑month span.
Initial intelligence in early 2022 indicated a plan to use Spain as a logistics hub for a major cocaine operation. From that moment, police units intensified their efforts to identify members of one of the country’s most active trafficking networks.
The investigation traced the sailboat to the port of Alicante, where the crew was fully identified. The vessel claimed a United States flag and departed from Tenerife before changing its flag to Bulgaria. The crew provided false information during the voyage as investigators closed in.
How the drugs moved from the Caribbean toward Europe
Investigators found that the network targeted South America, Brazil, and Tenerife as initial points of assembly. After preparing the vessel, the group embarked on a southbound journey from Santa Lucía to pick up the illicit cargo destined for Europe. Once loaded, the boat set course for Spain, contending with harsh Atlantic conditions and recurring mechanical issues that tested the crew and the vessel alike.
Following the gathering of substantial evidence, a joint naval operation between the National Police and the Spanish Navy unfolded near the end of May. The sailboat was located over a thousand nautical miles from Spain and intercepted before it could deliver the narcotics.
Seizure results and ongoing investigations
The operation resulted in the detention of four crew members—identified as Bulgarian, French, and Swedish nationals—and the seizure of 50 bales of cocaine, with the gross weight approaching 1,500 kilograms. The seized substance was cataloged and cataloged for further prosecution. The ship sank in the Atlantic amid the pursuit, highlighting the dangers associated with this illicit trade.
The coordinated initiative was supported by international partners, including the NCA from Britain, American and Italian authorities, CITCO, and MOC-N focused on maritime drug smuggling analysis and operations in Lisbon. The broader campaign continues to disrupt criminal networks involved in maritime drug trafficking, with authorities reporting that 2023 saw a significant uptick in confiscated cocaine, totaling more than 13 tons so far.