Spanish and French Authorities Seize Two Tonnes of Cocaine in Atlantic Yacht Operation

Spanish law enforcement agencies, working in cooperation with French customs and international partners, have successfully intercepted a yacht carrying more than two tonnes of cocaine in the Atlantic Ocean. According to reports from Euronews, the joint military and customs operation culminated in the arrest of four crew members on the high seas and the apprehension of an alleged network ringleader in Girona.

The high-profile interdiction, designated as Operation Doncella, was executed by Spain's Customs Surveillance Service alongside French customs authorities. The operation resulted in the seizure of over 2,000 kilos of cocaine approximately 400 miles off the Galician coast, marking a significant blow against maritime drug trafficking routes utilized by international cartels.

Investigators initiated the probe in February in the Spanish province of Girona, focusing on a suspicious 14-metre sailing boat flying a Polish flag. Discrepancies in the vessel's paperwork and the criminal history of its owner—who had previously been convicted of theft—prompted deeper scrutiny from law enforcement. Evidence eventually revealed that the trafficking network specialized in supplying foreign-flagged leisure boats to organized crime syndicates operating out of Eastern Europe and the Balkans.

Following intelligence gatherings conducted in Poland with assistance from the Intelligence Centre for Counter-Terrorism and Organised Crime, officers located the targeted yacht in Roses, Girona. Authorities maintained surveillance on the vessel until 11 July, when it departed into open waters with its tracking system deactivated in an apparent bid to evade monitoring.

To track and locate the smugglers across the Atlantic, Spanish authorities coordinated closely with multiple international agencies, including the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, the United Kingdom's National Crime Agency, and Portugal's Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre for Narcotics. A Spanish patrol vessel ultimately located the craft hundreds of miles off the coast of Galicia.

In the early hours of 14 September, law enforcement officers boarded the vessel, discovering 70 bales containing a total of 2,100 kilos of cocaine stowed across the deck. The boarding operation led to the immediate arrest of the four-man crew on board. The detained individuals hold diverse nationalities, comprising citizens from Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, and Albania. Investigators noted that the Albanian suspect was allegedly responsible for overseeing the secure delivery of the narcotics to buyers within the Balkans.

While the Spanish patrol vessel Petrel I towed the seized yacht toward the port of Vigo, police officers in Girona executed a parallel arrest, detaining the alleged ringleader of the logistics network. The suspect, a Chilean national, was reportedly in charge of sourcing the vessels used by the criminal organization.

Despite the successful interception and subsequent arrests, the investigation remains active. Law enforcement officers are currently searching for an additional suspect in Barcelona, who is believed to have handled surveillance and operational logistics for the group.

Those who have been charged are scheduled to appear before Spain's National Court. They face serious legal counts including belonging to an organized criminal group, smuggling, and drug trafficking, as European authorities intensify efforts to crack down on illicit trafficking along the Atlantic cocaine route.