A joint security operation in Spain, aimed at dismantling a criminal network trafficking drugs via maritime routes in the Atlantic, has identified Morocco as a key transit hub for substances destined for Europe.
A statement from the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, reported by Horas 24, indicated that the operation, carried out in two phases across Andalusia and the Canary Islands, resulted in the arrest of more than 100 individuals belonging to a dangerous criminal network, which included a significant number of Moroccans.
This network had become a central instrument in the transnational drug trafficking system to Europe and was responsible for smuggling approximately 57 tons of cocaine over the past year.
The operation led to the seizure of 10,400 kilograms of drugs, a portion of the total 57 tons trafficked by the network annually. Authorities also seized 70 vehicles, 30 vessels, real estate, firearms, multiple bank accounts, two drones, and over 800,000 euros in cash. Additionally, 150 mobile phones and advanced maritime smuggling equipment, valued at nearly 2.5 million euros, were confiscated.
Investigations revealed that the network relied on high-speed boats (narcolanchas) departing from rivers in Andalusia, the Canary Islands, and Morocco. These vessels transported drugs into the Atlantic Ocean to be transferred to larger “mother ships” in open seas for final distribution across European countries.
This operation underscores Morocco’s role as a primary export platform for these substances and exposes significant shortcomings in the country’s border and port controls. The network also established sophisticated maritime platforms that enabled crews to remain at sea for extended periods, employing encrypted communications, satellite devices, and untraceable mobile phones to evade detection.
This organizational structure positions Morocco as a critical node in the drug trafficking network, posing a threat to international security and turning the Mediterranean and Atlantic regions into hubs for transcontinental organized crime.
Police reports further revealed the network’s ruthless nature, noting that they paid 12 million euros to the family of a crew member who died during a shipment to ensure their silence and prevent any links to the criminal activity.
Investigations identified key coordinators in Morocco, Cqdiz, and the Canary Islands responsible for receiving and distributing drugs originating from Latin America. The operation, which lasted over a year and involved cooperation with authorities from multiple countries, confirmed that Morocco remains a central hub in trafficking operations that threaten both European and regional security, highlighting persistent gaps in effective border security measures.
