More than 10.4 tonnes of cocaine worth millions of euros have been seized and 105 suspected traffickers arrested after Spanish authorities dismantled what they call the largest cocaine smuggling network operating in the Atlantic.
The year-long operation delivered a major blow to a maritime crime empire that moved vast quantities of drugs into Europe using high-speed boats capable of outrunning patrol vessels.
Codenamed Black Shadow, the investigation revealed a sprawling organisation that allegedly smuggled around 57 tonnes of cocaine into Europe in just one year.
Police raids across Spain, from the Canary Islands to southern mainland ports, uncovered 70 vehicles, 30 boats, six properties, firearms, over €800,000 in cash and sophisticated communications and surveillance equipment.
The network relied on fleets of powerful “narcolanchas” travelling at more than 40 knots, launching mainly at night from Spain’s southern coastline and river routes. Offshore “mother ships” stationed in the Atlantic received cocaine shipments before smaller vessels raced them back to shore in carefully timed rendezvous operations.
To stay ahead of law enforcement, the group used encrypted messaging, satellite terminals, untraceable phones and coded language.
Investigators also discovered floating support platforms that allowed crews to remain at sea for weeks, resupplied by auxiliary boats carrying fuel, food and equipment. The organisation even maintained its own fuel depots, consuming more than 100,000 litres of petrol.
A network of coastal lookouts tracked naval and air patrols in real time, feeding intelligence to smugglers to help them evade capture.
Police also uncovered evidence of strict internal control, including a reported €12 million payment to the family of a crew member who died during a smuggling run, allegedly to ensure silence.
International cooperation played a central role in the takedown, involving Spanish police alongside agencies from the UK, US, Morocco and several European and African nations.
In a linked operation, Portuguese authorities intercepted a semi-submersible vessel carrying a further 6.6 tonnes of cocaine connected to the same network.
The first phase of Black Shadow concluded in June 2025 with 48 arrests and 3.8 tonnes of cocaine seized.
A second phase in November focused on the Campo de Gibraltar region, adding 57 more arrests and uncovering advanced surveillance tools, satellite systems, jammers and drone technology.
Elite police tactical units were deployed during raids due to the scale and risk of the operation.
Officials have hailed the crackdown as one of the most significant anti-narcotics operations in Spanish history, though they warn that trafficking routes remain highly adaptable.