The Spanish National Police announced the dismantling of an international drug trafficking network in the Atlantic Ocean, arresting 105 individuals in Andalusia and the Canary Islands. This was part of a large-scale security operation named “Black Shadow,” the investigations of which took more than a year.
This operation was carried out with effective on-ground intelligence coordination between Spanish security agencies and their Moroccan counterparts, where the exchange of accurate information about the network’s movements and maritime smuggling routes starting from Moroccan coasts was a crucial element in dismantling the logistical framework of this criminal organization.
According to the investigation data, the authorities managed to dismantle the most dangerous logistical organization supporting cocaine smuggling networks towards Europe, suspected of transporting up to 57 tons of cocaine through complex maritime routes extending from South America to European coasts.
A Cross-Border Network that Relies on Technology and Disguise
The criminal network, described as the largest drug distribution and money laundering center in the Strait of Gibraltar, relied on encrypted communication systems, advanced technology, and complex maritime structures. It also used fast boats and ships in the Atlantic to pass the shipments.
The investigations revealed that the organization had advanced equipment for night operations and avoiding security surveillance, including hard-to-track phones, satellite communication stations, in addition to a coded language. In one of the most dangerous chapters of the file, the network paid 12 million euros to the family of one of its deceased members during a smuggling operation, in an attempt to buy silence and prevent the linking of the incident to criminal activities.
Large Seizures and Advanced Logistical Structure
The operation resulted in the seizure of 10.4 tons of cocaine, 70 vehicles, 30 boats, 6 properties, and 3 firearms. In addition to hundreds of bank accounts, advanced drones (MIGADRON), more than 800,000 euros in cash, and over 150 mobile phones. Maritime and technological equipment valued at approximately 2.5 million euros was also confiscated.
A Central Role for Moroccan Coasts
The data showed that a key part of the fast boats’ movements originated from the shores of Morocco, where they were used as crossing points towards the Atlantic before meeting with large cargo ships. The Moroccan security cooperation enabled the tracking and disruption of these maritime routes, contributing to the thwarting of major smuggling operations before they reached Europe.
The investigations also revealed the presence of coordinators for the network in Morocco, alongside Andalusia and the Canary Islands, with direct links to cocaine sources in Colombia and Brazil.
An International Network with Billions in Profits
The authorities estimate that the organization smuggled approximately 57,000 kilograms of cocaine into Europe within just one year, with a market value exceeding 1.5 billion euros. In a related context, Portuguese authorities managed to intercept 6.6 tons of cocaine aboard a semi-submersible linked to the same network, confirming its highly complex international nature.
The threads of the organization extended across Spain (Galicia, Cádiz, Andalusia, Catalonia, Ceuta), Portugal, Morocco, and the Canary Islands, making it one of the most advanced and complex criminal networks dismantled in the field of Atlantic drug trafficking.
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