Articles in this Cluster
08-06-2025
Police in Spain have dismantled an international cocaine smuggling ring that used high-speed "narco boats" to transport large quantities of cocaine from Brazil and Colombia to the Canary Islands. The ring allegedly used an abandoned shipwreck as a refueling platform and 11 speedboats to pick up drugs from "mother ships." 48 people were arrested in a joint operation with several countries, and authorities seized nearly 3,800 kilos of cocaine, 19 boats, and around $114,000.
08-06-2025
The US Department of the Treasury has imposed sanctions on six individuals accused of trafficking cocaine using "narco subs" and other methods. Four Guyanese nationals and two Colombians are alleged to have trafficked tons of cocaine from South America to the US, Europe, and the Caribbean. The individuals sanctioned include a former Guyana police officer and a current officer accused of facilitating safe passage for drug traffickers. The Treasury Department stated that Guyana's proximity to the Caribbean and alleged corruption at its ports and borders have made it a major hotspot for cocaine trafficking. "Narco subs" can transport up to 3 tons of cocaine at a time and have been used to smuggle drugs through Guyana's rivers and into the Atlantic Ocean.
08-06-2025
More than 40 people have been arrested in a major police sting operation, dubbed Operation Black Shadow, targeting a "narco-boats" gang accused of trafficking cocaine into the EU. The gang used "mother ships" to transport cocaine from South America to the Canary Islands, with 11 speedboats ferrying the drugs to shore. Nearly 3,800 kilos of cocaine, 69 vehicles, and €100,000 in cash were seized during the operation, which involved police forces from around the world. A British national was among the 48 arrested.