![\"Spain](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1768241269.webp.webp\" "\\"Spain")
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Photo credit: Polic\u00eda Nacional<\/p>\n
The operation, codenamed White Tide, involved a coordinated effort between the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre-Narcotics (MAOC), the US Drug Enforcement Administration, the UK National Crime Agency, the Brazilian Federal Police, Spain’s<\/a> intelligence centre CITCO, as well as authorities from France and Portugal.<\/strong><\/p>\n Officers from the Special Operations Group (GEO) boarded the Cameroon-flagged merchant vessel last week after it departed Brazil, seizing 9,994 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in 294 packages, police said in a statement, News.Az<\/a> reports, citing foreign media.<\/a><\/p>\n The 13 crew members were arrested and a firearm used to protect the stash was seized during the operation involving the special anti-drugs prosecutor’s office, authorities said.<\/p>\n The vessel ran out of fuel after the raid and remained at sea for almost 12 hours, prompting Spain’s maritime rescue service SASEMAR to tow it to the Canary Islands.<\/p>\n The operation, codenamed White Tide, involved the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre-Narcotics (MAOC), the US Drug Enforcement Administration, the UK National Crime Agency, the Brazilian Federal Police, Spain’s intelligence centre CITCO and authorities from France and Portugal.<\/p>\n The seizure marks the largest maritime cocaine bust since 1999, when police impounded 7,500 kilogrammes from the vessel Tammsaare. Police described Monday’s operation as a historic blow to international drug trafficking networks.<\/p>\n Spain’s close ties with Latin America make it a key entry point for drugs into Europe.<\/p>\n In 2024, Spanish police seized 13 tonnes of cocaine from a container ship that arrived at the southern port of Algeciras from Ecuador, the country’s largest-ever haul of the drug.<\/p>\n