Europol supported two major operations against cocaine smuggling, during which more than two tons of the drug were seized and 62 people were arrested, including a high-value target – the leader of a criminal network from Spain.
The operations were carried out between November 2024 and September 2025 in the Iberian Peninsula, with the support of the US DEA and the authorities of the Dominican Republic and Cape Verde.
"These operations exemplify the changing landscape of global smuggling routes and innovative methods of concealment," Europol said in a statement. It said it had supported Portuguese and Spanish authorities in two major cocaine smuggling investigations, involving law enforcement on both sides of the Atlantic.
They point out that cocaine production in Latin America has reached unprecedented levels, while wholesale prices in Europe have fallen and are currently at their lowest level ever.
"Although joint investigations by law enforcement agencies and efforts to strengthen the security of European ports have yielded positive results in recent years, criminal networks have quickly adapted using new smuggling methods. Their activities have become increasingly global, interconnected and variable, which poses a major challenge for law enforcement agencies. Cocaine shipments entering the EU are now concealed in very sophisticated ways, including chemical modifications or incorporation into carrier materials, which makes detection in ports extremely difficult. In the Iberian Peninsula, for example, smugglers often transship cocaine on the high seas, using speedboats or other vessels to evade port controls," Europol points out.
They explain that two separate investigations, conducted between November 2024 and September 2025, led to the dismantling of two cocaine smuggling networks linked to the smuggling of tons of cocaine into the European Union.
"The first operation, led by the Portuguese Judicial Police and the Spanish Guardia Civil, with the support of the US DEA and the authorities of the Dominican Republic, shows how criminal networks are using increasingly sophisticated tactics to carry out their illegal activities. On 3 September 2025, the operation supported by Europol resulted in the arrest of 12 suspects for allegedly smuggling cocaine hidden in cowhides. This unusual method allowed the perpetrators to evade detection by both port scanners and drug-sniffing dogs. The only way to find the cocaine was to completely dismantle the shipment. Investigators believe that the suspects sent dozens of containers of cocaine from the Dominican Republic to different locations in Europe using this method of concealment."
They explain that the action carried out that day was the second phase of the operation, and that the first took place between June and July 2025 and led to the arrest of seven suspected citizens of Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Portugal and Spain.
"Overall, the operation resulted in 19 arrests, 32 searches of premises, the seizure of 2.232 kilograms of cocaine, 150.000 euros in cash, several electronic devices, luxury vehicles and documentation"...
They state that a few days later, on September 10, Europol supported Spanish Customs (SVA) and the Guardia Civil in another operation that led to the dismantling of a criminal network that was smuggling cocaine from South America to Europe using multiple types of vessels.
The suspects, nationals of Colombia, Cuba, Romania and Spain, were involved in extortion, kidnapping and extreme violence due to rivalries with other criminal organizations. The investigation also involved the US DEA and the Cape Verdean Judicial Police.
That day, 37 suspects were arrested, including a high-value target, 39 facilities were searched, a cocaine cutting laboratory was broken up, 600.000 euros in cash were seized, 200 bank accounts were frozen... 26 vehicles, 56 properties and five vessels were also seized, as well as 3 firearms - one shotgun and two pistols, but also fake weapons and knives were found in the home of the target responsible for the kidnappings and extortions.
"The gang was led by a high-value target, who was also arrested during the operation. This Spanish national offered his criminal services and logistical infrastructure to other criminal organizations in South America and Europe for the smuggling of cocaine. He also established a network of companies linked to fishing activities to launder profits and give the appearance of legality to his criminal activities," Europol said in a statement.
They explain that in November 2024, the first phase of the operation led to the arrest of six suspects who were on a fishing boat bound for Spain, and over 1,5 tons of cocaine were seized.
"Drug trafficking remains a key threat to the EU's internal security. To meet this challenge, Europol played a central role in ensuring the success of these two major investigations – by coordinating agencies, encouraging cross-border police cooperation, providing analytical and financial support and deploying experts on the ground during the day of the operation. Europe has become a primary market for cocaine, with record production levels and falling prices. While intercepting drug shipments is crucial, it is no longer enough on its own. Europol is therefore pursuing a combined strategy that targets both the shipments themselves and the criminal networks behind them. As both operations have shown, this approach has enabled authorities to uncover new routes, detect sophisticated methods of concealment and achieve stronger results in the fight against cocaine trafficking," the statement reads.
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