On 07/12/2024, Spanish authorities intercepted over 3.300 kg of cocaine aboard a Venezuelan-flagged fishing vessel West of the Canary Islands. Officers from the Spanish Customs Surveillance Special Operations Vessel PETREL boarded the vessel, arresting ten crew members on board—nine Venezuelan nationals and one Colombian national—and seizing 110 bales of cocaine.
The operation, which was supported by MAOC (N), also involved the US authorities through the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the UK authorities through the National Crime Agency (NCA), and Portugal’s Judicial Police (PJ).
This seizure highlights the critical role of international cooperation in combating maritime drug trafficking and is a direct consequence of extensive exchanges between several law enforcement partners on both sides of the Atlantic, including the aforementioned countries as well as the Brazilian Federal Police.
Press release: https://policia.es/_es/comunicacion_prensa_detalle.php?ID=16404
