Spanish authorities have dealt a major blow to international drug trafficking, arresting 30 individuals and confiscating nearly 2.5 tonnes of cocaine after a complex 15-month investigation. The criminal network employed a daring method known as the 'monkey' technique, using agile swimmers to stash drugs on moving cargo ships bound for Europe.
The 'Monkey' Technique Unmasked
The investigation, launched by the Policía Nacional in October 2024, began with the discovery of 88kg of cocaine in a vehicle in the southern town of Mijas. This find led detectives to three interconnected gangs, including a powerful Balkan cartel, collaborating to flood Europe with narcotics from Colombia.
Their signature method involved recruiting young, proficient swimmers from impoverished backgrounds. These individuals would board vessels at sea to hide cocaine shipments inside maritime containers. Accomplices would then intercept the ships before they reached the Strait of Gibraltar to retrieve the illicit cargo.
High-Seas Interceptions and Armed Stowaways
One such recovery mission was foiled in mid-2025 when a ship heading to Cádiz port reported stowaways on deck. This led to the seizure of a container holding 1.4 tonnes of cocaine. The three stowaways, whose job was to retrieve the drugs, managed to escape.
In a separate incident, a vessel in Portuguese waters reported armed stowaways onboard. Despite the alarm, the men succeeded in unloading bundles of cocaine from a hidden container and passing them to accomplices before vanishing.
From 'Drop-Offs' to a Pan-European Distribution
By autumn 2025, police identified another tactic. They observed five men—three Colombians and two Spain-based members of the Balkan cartel—using speedboats and a 'drop-off' method. This involved throwing drug packages from a merchant ship for collection by smaller vessels near the coast, sometimes subduing the crew with military-style tactics and weapons.
Once ashore, the cocaine was hidden in towns around the Gulf of Cádiz before being transported by road to other European markets. The police operation culminated in significant seizures beyond the drugs themselves, including:
- Various assault weapons and boarding ladders.
- Nautical equipment and eight high-end vehicles.
- Over €166,000 in cash and watches and jewellery valued at €100,000.
This bust follows another massive seizure announced just days prior, where police found almost 10 tonnes of cocaine hidden in a salt cargo on a ship near the Canary Islands, marking their largest-ever maritime cocaine haul.
