A warning from the United Nations this year noted that world cocaine supply remains at unusually high levels. The cocaine market has grown rapidly, with cultivation increasing by 35% between 2020 and 2021, the steepest annual rise since 2016. UNODC officials urged countries to raise their vigilance and respond with urgent, comprehensive action.
Just days earlier, the narco-submarine known as El Poseidón was recovered near a port in Galicia, Spain, after being found empty and unmanned. The cargo likely moved inland for distribution, and authorities estimated it could have carried up to 5,000 kilograms. Investigators noted the vessel might signal a new wave of shipments and the need for ongoing monitoring. A sailor reported seeing the sub after it had been abandoned, raising questions about how many such vessels still evade state surveillance. Many experts believe more of these submarines exist and remain at large.
The narco-submarine from Galicia is visible in the context of growing trafficking activity in the region. The operation drew attention to the challenges of detecting this niche transport method and to the persistence of organized crime networks across European waterways.
“When El Poseidón appeared in Galicia, it marked only the third such craft seen here, and authorities warned it would not be the first or the last. The detection of this vessel shows that this transport method is neither random nor rare”, explained Fernando Alonso, director of a Galician anti-drug foundation.
“We are at a critical moment with a surge in drugs, particularly cocaine, and prices have fallen. Spain and Galicia have long served as gateways for cocaine, and the government must decide whether anti-trafficking efforts are a genuine priority and are backed by decisive action”, Alonso argued. He called for increased human and material resources to support the fight against illicit drug networks.
Alonso, along with David Martínez, who coordinates legal services for a regional support group, reiterated concerns that the wider European context remains a major entry point for drugs routed through regional hubs. The sentiment is that while local community impact is immediate, the bigger picture extends well beyond Galicia.
The organization observed that trafficking networks have shown resilience, with more cocaine appearing and becoming cheaper. Each year, more individuals seek detox services at local centers, and some entries are by younger populations who may be drawn into the trade or its consequences.
There is evidence of only a few narco-submarines reaching Galicia and seizures in limited instances, yet experts stress that more covert shipments are likely to have left the coast. Narco-submarines are widely recognized as a method used by criminal networks to move drugs to Europe and North America. They are produced in hidden workshops and depart from concealed ports in the Americas, traveling toward the Pacific and then onward through Latin American routes.
Reports from naval and drug enforcement agencies indicate that other submarines have been intercepted in distant waters. In one case, a vessel spotted in Pacific waters carried more than two tons of cocaine, with crew members exposed to toxic gases from the engine. Investigators suspect the shipment targeted Central America before possibly attempting entry into the United States.
Earlier this year, authorities in another country reported discovering a narco-submarine off its northern coast near a border region. The pattern shows that narco-submarine use is not confined to one locale and has grown as criminal organizations seek new routes and methods. The appearance of these craft in late years underscores a long history of such operations in the region, dating back to the 1990s, and highlights ongoing risks for European and American ports.