SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, Spain — In a historic strike against transatlantic narcotics networks, Spanish National Police announced Monday the successful execution of “Operation White Tide” (Marea Blanca). The mission resulted in the largest cocaine seizure on the high seas in the force’s history, intercepting a Cameroon-flagged merchant vessel carrying nearly 10 metric tons (9,994 kilograms) of the illicit substance hidden beneath a massive shipment of industrial salt.
The operation, which culminated in the Atlantic Ocean approximately 330 miles off the Canary Islands, represents a “decisive blow” to a multinational criminal syndicate specializing in exporting South American cocaine to European markets.
The Anatomy of the Bust: Salt, Snipers, and Shovels
The seizure was the result of months of intelligence gathering and international coordination. Elite officers from Spain’s Special Operations Group (GEO) boarded the vessel last week after it departed from Brazil.
- Concealment Tactics: The drugs were meticulously packed into 294 high-density bales and buried deep within the ship’s hold under tons of salt to evade thermal and visual detection.
- The Interception: Upon boarding, officers discovered the crew was protected by at least one firearm. A total of 13 crew members of various nationalities were arrested without further violence.
- A Drift at Sea: Following the raid, the merchant ship ran out of fuel and remained adrift in the Atlantic for nearly 12 hours. The Spanish maritime rescue service, SASEMAR, was eventually deployed to tow the vessel to the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife for a full forensic search.
Financial Impact: A €700 Million Blow
While official valuations fluctuate based on purity, the sheer scale of the 10-ton haul carries a staggering market value. In the current European market, where wholesale prices are seeing a slight decrease due to saturation but retail demand remains high, the estimated value of the shipment is immense.
| Metric | Estimated Value |
| Wholesale Value | ~€250 Million to €350 Million |
| Estimated Street Value | €700 Million to €1 Billion |
| Total Weight | 9,994 kg (Approx. 11 US Tons) |
| Number of Bales | 294 |
A Masterclass in International Cooperation
Operation White Tide was not a solo effort. It serves as a flagship example of the modern, “agentic” approach to global policing, involving a coalition of agencies working in real-time.
- The Intelligence Quad: The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) provided critical satellite tracking and signal intelligence.
- Regional Partners: The Brazilian Federal Police tracked the vessel’s departure and loading, while authorities from France and Portugal provided maritime support throughout the Atlantic crossing.
- The Command Center: Coordination was handled through the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre-Narcotics (MAOC-N) in Lisbon and Spain’s CITCO (Intelligence Center for Terrorism and Organized Crime).
The Bottom Line: Rewriting the Record Books
This bust eclipses the previous high-seas record held by the force since 1999, when 7.5 tons were seized from the vessel Tammsaare. While a 13-ton seizure occurred in the port of Algeciras in 2024, that shipment was discovered in a container; “White Tide” stands as the undisputed champion of high-seas interceptions—the most dangerous and logistically complex form of maritime interdiction.
As the 13 suspects face charges of drug trafficking and membership in a criminal organization, the message to cartels is clear: the Atlantic is no longer a safe corridor for the salt-and-cocaine trade.
Spanish Police Flickr Picture by copsadmirer
