Spanish police seize over 4 tons of cocaine off the Canary Islands in an international operation

A boat off the Canary Islands in the Atlantic was found to be carrying over four tons of cocaine. This was reported by Barron's citing AFP. The Spanish police announced on Thursday that four crew members were arrested for transporting drugs from South America, reports say.

In a joint statement, the Spanish police and customs service disclosed that the operation was successfully conducted in cooperation with the British National Crime Agency and the American Drug Enforcement Agency. The apprehended crew members hail from Romania, Spain, Moldova, and Morocco.

The authorities believe that the suspects must have had some external support. "A ship used in the Atlantic, such as this, would require constant assistance to supply water, food, and fuel, typically made available by other leisure crafts, fishing vessels, or inflatables of a similar kind,” the statement explained.

The police are investigating other vessels that may be related to this operation. "The operation is ongoing, and the potential presence of other ships in the area that could be involved is being probed, thereby suggesting further operations cannot be disregarded," the statement added.

Barron's underscores that Spain, due to its ties with Latin America and its proximity to Morocco, is one of the primary points on the map for drug traffickers looking to transport their goods to Europe.

Source: Barron's