Spanish Police Bust Complex Drug Smuggling Network Using “Monkey” Technique
Spanish authorities have dismantled a sophisticated drug trafficking network that employed a unique “monkey” technique, utilizing skilled swimmers to load cocaine onto Europe-bound container ships on the high seas. The network, which was busted by Spanish police, used youngsters from low-income families who were good swimmers to stash the drug on vessels, according to a statement from the police.
The smugglers would then intercept the ships before they arrived at the Gibraltar Strait, a busy and narrow body of water separating Europe and North Africa, and raid the containers to retrieve the cocaine. In one instance, the crew of a ship bound for the southern Spanish port of Cadiz reported stowaways on the deck, with 1.3 tons of cocaine found in a container. Another ship passing through Portuguese waters raised the alarm about the hijacking of the vessel by armed stowaways who unloaded cocaine concealed in a container.
Investigation Reveals Complex Operation
The investigation discovered that the network would throw the cocaine overboard from merchant vessels to smaller, faster boats close to Europe, using military techniques and weapons to subdue the ships’ crew and extract the drug from the containers. The cocaine was then stored in southern Spain before being transported by road to other European countries.
The authorities made 30 arrests and seized 2.4 tons of cocaine, military-grade weapons, ladders used to raid the ships, luxury vehicles, and cash. Police released video of the operation on social media, showing officers uncovering packages of alleged drugs as well as cash. The social media post also included footage and images of one of the cargo ships that allegedly carried the drugs.
Spain’s Strategic Location Makes it a Key Entry Point for Drugs
Spain’s close ties with Latin America and proximity to Morocco, a top cannabis producer, make it a key entry point for drugs into Europe. This is not the first major drug bust in Spain, as the country has seen several large-scale seizures in recent years. On Monday, Spanish police announced their largest-ever seizure of cocaine at sea, impounding a Europe-bound container ship in the Atlantic Ocean carrying almost 10 tons of the drug.
In October last year, Spanish police seized 6.5 tons of cocaine and arrested nine people after a U.S. tip-off led them to raid a ship off the Canary Islands. In June 2025, police forces dismantled a drug trafficking ring that used high-speed “narco boats” to smuggle large quantities of cocaine from Brazil and Colombia to the Canary Islands.
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