18 tonnes of cocaine seized near the Canary Islands in historic operation
The Colombian authorities have carried out one of the largest anti-drugs operations in its history, seizing 27 tonnes of cocaine in a series of raids over the past two days, including a major haul of 18 tonnes near the Canary Islands.
President Gustavo Petro confirmed the results on Sunday, confirming that the operations resulted led to around 20 arrests, describing the achievement as “one of the biggest seizures ever made in such a short time”.
According to Petro, 18 tonnes were intercepted near the Canary Islands in joint operation with European police forces, where authorities detained a pirate-style vessel, and nine tonnes were discovered aboard several boats on routes in the Pacific, with cooperation from Panama, Australia, Costa Rica, and El Salvador.
The large-scale seizures come amid a surge in cocaine production in Colombia. UN data shows output rising by 53% in 2023 to a record 2,644 tonnes, with coca cultivation expanding by 10% to more than 252,000 hectares.
Despite sustained efforts, most Colombian cocaine still ends up in the United States and Europe. Colombia’s Defence Minister recently reported that between January and early September 2025, cocaine seizures increased by 8% year-on-year, while the number of destroyed drug laboratories rose by 21%.
Security forces also captured or neutralised 3,200 members of criminal groups, a 17% increase compared with the same period in the previous year.
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