A Spanish police force announced the seizure of almost 10,000 kilograms of cocaine aboard a cargo ship carrying salt in the Atlantic, coming from Brazil and destined for Europe, marking the largest high-seas cocaine seizure in the country’s history.

Previous major seizures, including around 6.5 tonnes off the Canary Islands in October 2025 and about 13 tonnes found in Algeciras harbor in 2024, highlight Spain’s role as a major entry point for Latin American cocaine into Europe.

Authorities say the cocaine was concealed within a salt shipment, part of a historic strike against a South American cocaine cartel carried out the previous week.

The drugs were hidden in a salt load, and the incident reportedly occurred last week.

The vessel was intercepted roughly 290 nautical miles west of the Canaries, and all 13 crew members, reportedly from India and Serbia, were detained; a firearm was seized.

The interception occurred about 290 nautical miles west of the Canary Islands, with 13 crew members detained and a firearm confiscated.

The operation received support from the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the MAOC-N narcotics coordination centre, and authorities in France, Britain, Portugal, and Germany.

International collaboration included the DEA, MAOC-N, and authorities from France, Portugal, Britain, and Brazil, per the police statement.

Spain’s operation was aided by DEA, MAOC-N, and several European partners to coordinate the high-seas seizure.

The ship, flagged from Cameroon, was intercepted near the Atlantic with the cocaine hidden inside a salt cargo destined for the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife in Europe.

Thirteen people were arrested, 294 bags contained the drugs, and a handgun was found on board as authorities recovered vessel and cargo details.

After the seizure, the vessel ran out of fuel and was towed to Santa Cruz de Tenerife; the operation involved specialized police units and a multinational narcotics trafficking network.