Swimmers Employed by Drug Syndicate to Hide Cocaine on Vessels

Spanish law enforcement announced they have dismantled a sophisticated drug operation that involved swimmers covertly attaching Colombian cocaine to container ships en route to Europe, as well as hijacking ships.

This operation, referred to as the "monkey" technique, exploited young individuals with strong swimming skills, often from impoverished backgrounds, to place the narcotics on ocean-going ships, as per police reports.

Additionally, members of this group traveled to Spain to conduct raids on containers by intercepting ships as they approached the critical maritime passage of the Strait of Gibraltar separating Europe from North Africa.

A noteworthy incident last year involved a ship destined for Cádiz in southern Spain reporting unauthorized passengers and subsequently discovering 1.3 tons of cocaine hidden aboard. Shortly thereafter, another vessel navigating Portuguese waters issued a distress signal about a hostile takeover by armed stowaways revealing drugs concealed within its cargo.

Investigation findings suggest the group reclaimed the narcotics by casting them off merchant ships into speedy small boats near the European coast, employing military-style tactics and weaponry to overpower ship crews and extract the substance from containers.

Once collected, the cocaine was distributed in southern Spain and then transported via land to other European destinations.

The crackdown resulted in 30 arrests, along with the seizure of 2.4 tons of cocaine, war-grade firearms, equipment used for ship boarding, upscale cars, and large sums of money.

Footage of the operation was shared via social media, displaying law enforcement unveiling drug packages alongside images of the suspected cargo vessels.

Spain's strategic location, with its historic ties to Latin America and proximity to cannabis-producing Morocco, positions it as a prime entry gateway for illicit drugs entering Europe.

Recently, Spanish authorities commandeered a Europe-destined container ship off the Atlantic, laden with an unprecedented nearly 10 tons of cocaine, marking a new record in maritime drug interdictions.

In an earlier operation last October, Spanish forces uncovered 6.5 tons of cocaine off a ship proximate to the Canary Islands, resulting in multiple arrests.