Spain's Guardia Civil boarded the Arconian freighter at sea, guarded by six armed men, and escorted it to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria with a massive cocaine shipment. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska called it one of the most significant seizures nationally and internationally. Weighing is ongoing on Monday without a final figure.
Guardia Civil officers boarded the Arconian freighter at sea off Dajla in Western Sahara. They encountered six heavily armed men and a shipment hidden behind a welded metal wall leading to a narrow corridor packed with bales. Authorities seized at least three rifles and three semi-automatic pistols, some with improvised straps.
The mid-sized vessel, flying the Comoros flag, departed Sierra Leone on April 22 bound for Benghazi, Libya. It arrived in Las Palmas on Sunday, where 23 people, mostly Filipino and Dutch nationals, were arrested. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska urged waiting for the weigh-in, with sources estimating over 30 tonnes, exceeding prior records like 13 tonnes seized in Algeciras in 2024.
The UCO-led operation, backed by the UEI high-risk unit, involved tense moments. The Asociación Unificada de la Guardia Civil (AUGC) hailed it as a “historic blow to drug trafficking” and shared images of the confiscated weapons. The case is under secrecy at the Audiencia Nacional, with analysis slowed by custody chain requirements.
