The Guardia Civil and the Customs Surveillance Service of the Spanish Tax Agency have seized 289 kilograms of cocaine, worth around 23 million euros, in a drugs bust in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The operation, named “Pride South”, dismantled a sophisticated drug trafficking scheme involving a cargo ship from Brazil.
The cocaine, hidden within the refrigeration system of the boat, was concealed in 12 waterproof bags and secured with ropes to the ship's hull, making detection challenging.
The operation began following intelligence that a cargo ship was being used to transport drugs from Brazil to Europe. The vessel had declared its intended destination as the Port of Las Palmas, with subsequent stops planned in Sete (France) and Kopa (Slovenia).
Upon the ship's arrival in Las Palmas, an underwater inspection revealed the hidden sacks. The contents of the sacks were tested using a narcotic detection kit, confirming that they contained a total of 289 kilograms of cocaine.
The operation highlights the ongoing efforts by authorities to combat new trafficking routes and concealment techniques employed by criminal organisations to smuggle cocaine from South America to Europe.
