On Saturday, October 7, 2026, Spanish authorities arrested three individuals at the Port of Algeciras while they were attempting to load 50 kilograms of cocaine. These individuals were trying to pose as dock workers during the smuggling operation.
Details of the Arrest Operation
Authorities became suspicious upon seeing a jet ski engaging in suspicious activities near container ships at the Port of Algeciras. This suspicion led them to monitor port activities and track the movements of the jet ski. The jet ski approached a dock where an unidentified container ship was loading.
Read more: Discovery of 127 billion rials worth of smuggled goods and fuel in Bushehr
Two individuals disembarked from the jet ski and wore clothing similar to dock workers to blend in among them. The two managed to approach the container ship and board it while being monitored by police.
Discovery of the Shipment and Arrest of the Suspects
Police forces decided to act and arrested the two individuals while they were still on the ship. A search of the ship revealed two backpacks that authorities believe were taken from a container, and the smugglers were preparing them for removal from the ship. The smugglers appeared to have become aware of the authorities' presence and attempted to hide the backpacks.
Inspection of the backpacks revealed 50 packages, each containing one kilogram of cocaine. The total value of this shipment was estimated by police to be over 1.5 million euros. Additionally, a third suspect was arrested while using the jet ski. Subsequent investigations revealed that the jet ski had been stolen a few hours earlier in La Línea de Concepción.
This discovery came just days after police reported that another smuggler had been arrested while attempting to bring in 1.5 tons of cocaine through the Port of Valencia. As part of the surveillance operation, police use a technical van named "Medusa," which allows them to quickly X-ray vehicles coming from Ibiza passenger boats. Authorities announced that smugglers frequently use the Balearic Islands as routes to transport shipments to Europe.
This targeted van was also X-rayed, and its contents did not match its declared cargo. After opening and inspecting the van, police found packages located behind a curtain near the door, containing 1,420 cocaine pills. A Romanian who was the driver of the van was also arrested.
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