In a massive drug bust the Spanish authorities seized a record-breaking 13 tons of cocaine, once again hidden in a banana shipment from Ecuador. The monumental haul—Spain’s largest in history—arrived at the bustling Port of Algeciras, the major gateway for goods entering Europe from the south.
The cargo, shipped from Guayaquil, Ecuador, was flagged as suspicious in a joint operation by Spain’s National Police and the Customs Surveillance Service. According to police officials, the operation required significant international cooperation, including help from Ecuadorian law enforcement.
The bananas turned out to be the perfect cover—almost too perfect. For years, the Spanish importer in Alicante, a coastal city in eastern Spain, had received regular shipments of fruit from Ecuador. But a few red flags caught investigators’ attention: the company’s finances didn’t add up, and it recently shifted all banana imports to a single Ecuadorian supplier known to police back home for suspected drug links.
Finally, in mid-October, after years of covert monitoring, customs officials decided to scan the suspicious shipment. Bingo! Hidden behind the first layer of legitimate bananas were thousands of identical boxes, each packed with blocks of cocaine, totaling an eye-popping 13 tons.
Spain’s National Police Chief, Antonio Martínez Duarte, confirmed this was not only Spain’s largest drug bust but also one of the largest cocaine shipments ever intercepted in Europe. “It’s a historic seizure,” he said, adding that the operation underscores the vital role of international cooperation in combating global drug trafficking networks.
Following the discovery, police conducted further searches of homes and offices in Alicante and Madrid. One suspect was arrested, while two other top individuals linked to the import company remain at large, sparking a transnational manhunt.
