Spanish police seized between 30 and 45 tonnes of cocaine from a cargo ship in international waters off the Canary Islands [1], [2].

The operation represents a significant blow to transatlantic drug trafficking routes and highlights the increasing volume of narcotics moving toward North African markets.

Members of the Civil Guard intercepted the cargo ship, identified as the Arconian [3]. The seizure occurred in the Atlantic Ocean, where authorities detained 23 crew members [1]. A High Court announcement on May 7, 2024, confirmed that the crew members are being held without bail [1].

Reports on the exact volume of the narcotics vary. Reuters said the seizure was 30 tonnes [1], while other reports suggest a range between 30 and 45 tonnes [2]. This volume of cocaine, totaling up to 45,000 kg, marks one of the largest hauls in the region [2].

The shipment was part of a targeted drug-interdiction operation [2]. Investigators said the cargo was bound for Libya [2]. The use of a large cargo vessel like the Arconian allows traffickers to move massive quantities of drugs across the ocean, often hiding them among legitimate goods, before distributing them into regional hubs.

Spanish authorities continue to monitor the Atlantic corridors to prevent similar shipments from reaching the European or African coasts. The detention of the 23 crew members [1] provides investigators with a critical opportunity to trace the origin of the shipment and the networks coordinating the logistics of the voyage.

“Spanish police seized between 30 and 45 tonnes of cocaine”

The interception of the Arconian underscores a shifting trend in global narcotics trafficking, where North Africa—and specifically Libya—is increasingly serving as a transit point or destination for South American cocaine. By utilizing high-capacity cargo ships in international waters, cartels can bypass smaller, more heavily monitored ports, though the scale of such shipments makes them high-priority targets for coordinated international maritime surveillance.