A large operation led by the Customs Surveillance Service (SVA) targeted a cocaine smuggling route that moved substantial shipments from South America to Europe, with a container bound for the port of Algeciras in Cadiz. Officials describe the capture as a major hit against a criminal network that relied on maritime lanes to move illicit drugs. Even as the probe continued, authorities confirmed that the seizure involved a significant amount of cocaine concealed inside a container awaiting offloading at the Cadiz facility.
Information supplied to EFE by Customs Surveillance sources indicates the crackdown began while investigators tracked a shipment believed to be in transit. The container was opened at the Cadiz port, where a concealed metal box packed with drugs was found, inserted to defeat standard screening measures. The seizure highlights the patient, intelligence-driven work that leads to high-profile interceptions of this scale.
The Customs Surveillance Service, operating under the Tax Agency, remains focused on the investigation of the organization members implicated in this operation. The inquiry seeks to map the full network behind the drug trafficking scheme, including organizers, couriers, and intermediaries that helped move the shipment toward European markets.
Experts note that this operation stands as one of the largest cocaine interceptions at the Algeciras port in recent years, underscoring the ongoing risk posed by organized crime to European ports. Earlier in the year, another seizure in a different cargo container removed more than nine tons of cocaine, reflecting sustained efforts to curb smuggling at major entry points along Spain’s coastline.
Officials emphasize that the case is still under official scrutiny, with authorities coordinating closely with regional and national partners to map the network, seize related assets, and strengthen safeguards against future consignments. The actions demonstrate the vigilance of customs agencies and the critical importance of cooperation across jurisdictions to disrupt illicit flows before they reach markets.
In the broader landscape, port security and cargo screening continue to adapt as smugglers modify their tactics in response to tougher controls. The Algeciras operation highlights the need for ongoing investment in intelligence gathering, container screening technologies, and cross-border collaboration to deter trafficking at its source. Authority figures stress that each seizure of this magnitude sends a clear message: criminal networks that target international trade will face sustained scrutiny and meaningful consequences.