Archive · 13 Jan 2026
Spain Seizes 10 Tons of Cocaine Hidden in Salt
Spanish police found a huge amount of cocaine, almost 10 tons, hidden under salt in a ship coming from Brazil to Europe.
The ship was stopped in the middle of the ocean, and all 13 people on the ship were arrested.
The ship didn't have enough fuel, so it was towed to a port in the Canary Islands.
The police worked with other countries to catch the drugs.
This is the biggest amount of cocaine Spain has ever found at sea.
The police showed videos of them digging through the salt to find the drugs.
Spanish police seized 10 metric tons of cocaine, their largest-ever high-seas seizure.
The cocaine was hidden under salt in a shipment from Brazil to Europe.
13 people were arrested on board the intercepted vessel.
The vessel ran out of fuel and was towed to port in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands.
The operation involved international cooperation with multiple law enforcement agencies.
- Who
- Spanish National Police with international partners
- What
- Seized 10 metric tons of cocaine hidden in a salt shipment
- When
- January 12, 2026
- Where
- Atlantic Ocean, near the Canary Islands
- Why
- To disrupt international drug trafficking routes
Law Enforcement
Drug Traffickers
International Cooperation
Law Enforcement
Spanish police, with support from international partners, successfully intercepted a large shipment of cocaine, demonstrating effective international cooperation.
Drug Traffickers
Drug traffickers attempt to evade detection by using sophisticated concealment methods and exploiting international shipping routes.
- Amount of Cocaine Seized
- 10 metric tons (9,994 kilograms)
- Origin of Shipment
- Brazil
- Destination of Shipment
- Europe
- Concealment Method
- Hidden under salt in containers
- Number of Arrests
- 13
- Location of Interception
- Atlantic Ocean, near the Canary Islands
- Reason for Towing
- Ran out of fuel
- Port of Towing
- Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Canary Islands
- International Partners
- U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Brazilian Federal Police, National Crime Agency, France, Portugal