The Spanish National Police, in collaboration with the Directorate-General for National Security and French Police, has seized over 15 tons of cannabis hidden inside a truck carrying watermelons from Morocco.
This operation also led to the arrest of five individuals suspected of involvement in drug trafficking and belonging to a criminal organization.
### Operation Details
The operation took place on June 19, 2025, when a truck arrived at the port of Almería from Morocco. Spanish authorities discovered the substantial cannabis shipment ingeniously concealed. Among the watermelons, there were bags filled with cannabis, while other bags imitated potatoes to further disguise additional drugs.
The authorities tracked the truck closely, which attempted to mislead them with various maneuvers in Almería. After the truck entered an industrial facility, police conducted a search that uncovered the drug shipment and the organization’s innovative smuggling methods.
### International Cooperation: Key to Success
Investigations began in early June 2025 after the Spanish police received information from the French judicial police’s drug enforcement office. This information pertained to a Spanish-Moroccan organization aiming to smuggle large quantities of cannabis into Europe.
The Moroccan Directorate-General for National Security played a crucial role in facilitating the operation by providing vital information. This international cooperation underscores the importance of information sharing between countries to address complex security challenges.
### Criminal Organization’s Tactics
The criminal organization exploited the constant flow of trucks transporting agricultural products through the port of Almería, providing an ideal cover for drug smuggling. They used a commercial truck carrying watermelons to conceal the cannabis, packaging the drugs in bales and bags mimicking the appearance of potatoes to avoid detection.
Upon arrival in Almería, the truck executed deliberate maneuvers to mislead authorities before heading to a warehouse in an industrial area, where the drugs were temporarily stored prior to redistribution. These tactics highlight the complexity of criminal networks and their use of advanced techniques to evade surveillance.
### Results of the Operation
The operation resulted in the arrest of five individuals, including the truck driver and others responsible for guarding and securing the shipment. They have been charged with membership in a criminal organization and drug trafficking and are currently in custody. The operation dealt a significant blow to smuggling networks, with the seizure of over 15 tons of cannabis that could have flooded European markets.
### Importance of Combating Drug Trafficking
Drug trafficking remains one of the most pressing security challenges facing nations, as it funds other criminal activities such as terrorism and organized crime. Therefore, international cooperative efforts like this operation are essential in mitigating this threat.
