Source: news.sky.com
Image content: The image shows a large, rusted shipwreck resting in shallow, clear turquoise water. Parts of the hull and deck are exposed, and nearby reefs or rocks are visible beneath the surface. The scene suggests an abandoned vessel grounded near a coastal area.
Summary
Authorities from Spain and multiple international partners dismantled a major cocaine trafficking network operating via the Canary Islands, arresting 48 suspects and seizing nearly four tonnes of cocaine. The organization used 11 high-speed “narco boats” to transfer drugs from mother ships traveling from Brazil and Colombia, refueling at an abandoned shipwreck and coordinating via encrypted communications and satellite systems. Raids across Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote seized vehicles, cash, firearms, boats, and electronic gear. Supported by Europol, the UK’s NCA, the U.S. DEA, and agencies across Europe and South America, Operation Black Shadow is seen as a significant blow to cocaine routes into the EU and UK.
Key Points
- 48 suspects arrested and nearly 3,800–4,000 kg of cocaine seized
- Smugglers used 11 high-speed boats, mother ships, and a shipwreck refuel point
- Encrypted communications and satellite terminals aided evasion tactics
- Raids hit 29 properties; vehicles, cash, firearms, and boats confiscated
- International cooperation involved Europol, UK NCA, U.S. DEA, and South American partners