European law enforcement agencies have successfully disrupted a major drug trafficking route across the Atlantic, known as the "Cocaine Highway." During a coordinated maritime operation, they seized 11 tons of cocaine...
European law enforcement agencies have successfully disrupted a major drug trafficking route across the Atlantic, known as the "Cocaine Highway." During a coordinated maritime operation, they seized 11 tons of cocaine and 8.5 tons of hashish, targeting offshore drug networks between the Canary Islands and the Azores.
This operation, lasting two weeks, was led by Spain’s Guardia Civil in collaboration with Europol. It resulted in 54 arrests and the interception of eight vessels thought to be involved in complex drug transfers at sea, designed to avoid major European ports and stay undetected.
This crackdown is part of Europe's ongoing fight against sophisticated offshore drug trafficking networks, which have been shifting their operations further into the Atlantic Ocean.
The operation follows Europol's earlier warnings that cocaine trafficking groups are moving away from traditional port-based smuggling routes. Instead, they are opting for fragmented offshore methods, using multiple vessels for mid-ocean transfers and remote coastal drop-offs.
Authorities explain that the process usually begins with "mother ships" leaving Latin America loaded with cocaine. In international waters, the drugs are transferred to high-speed boats—such as rigid-hulled inflatable boats—before being moved to smaller vessels for delivery to remote beaches and marinas in Spain and Portugal.
The area between the Canary Islands and the Azores is becoming important for drug trafficking due to its remoteness and the challenges of monitoring such a vast maritime space. Europol has noted that this region is often referred to as the “Cocaine Highway” by investigators.
Jean-Philippe Lecouffe, Deputy Executive Director Operations at Europol, stated, “Our work proves that when law enforcement cooperates, even the Atlantic is not big enough for organized crime to hide.”
This operation builds on previous significant maritime drug investigations conducted by Spanish authorities. In January, Spain announced the dismantling of what it termed the largest cocaine trafficking network in the Atlantic during Operation Black Shadow. That investigation resulted in 105 arrests and the seizure of over 10.4 tons of cocaine.
The Black Shadow investigation uncovered a large-scale maritime logistics network using high-speed "narcolanchas" that could travel over 40 knots. These vessels operated from launch points along Spain’s southern coast and the Canary Islands. Traffickers utilized encrypted communication, offshore refueling platforms, satellite systems, and floating supply bases, allowing crews to remain at sea for weeks while coordinating with mother ships.
Authorities estimated that the Black Shadow network alone smuggled about 57 tons of cocaine into Europe in just one year.
The latest Atlantic operation involved collaboration from law enforcement agencies in Spain, Portugal, Italy, the United Kingdom, and the United States, including the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, UK National Crime Agency, Portugal’s Polícia Judiciária, Guardia di Finanza, the Spanish Navy, and Spain’s tax authority.
Europol mentioned that intelligence gathered during this operation is currently under analysis to uncover additional criminal networks connected to this route, suggesting that more arrests and seizures are anticipated as follow-up investigations proceed.
The operation was supported by EMPACT, the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats, which is the EU’s main framework for coordinating actions against organized international crime.