Spanish police have dismantled a major drug-smuggling network that used teams of young swimmers to hide cocaine on Europe-bound ships. Thirty people have been arrested and nearly 2.5 tonnes of cocaine seized following a 15-month investigation.
The probe began in October 2024 when police found 88kg of cocaine in a vehicle in Mijas, southern Spain. The discovery led officers to three gangs, including a Balkan cartel, who were collaborating to bring large quantities of cocaine from Colombia.
Officers said the gangs employed the so-called 'monkey' technique, using swimmers from poor backgrounds to place drugs into maritime containers while ships were at sea. Accomplices then intercepted the vessels before they reached the Strait of Gibraltar to retrieve the cargo.
One attempt was foiled when a ship bound for Cádiz reported stowaways on deck, leading to the seizure of a container holding 1.4 tonnes of cocaine. In another incident, armed men managed to unload bundles from a container in Portuguese waters and escape.
Police also seized assault weapons, boarding ladders, eight high-end vehicles, over €166,000 in cash, and watches and jewellery worth €100,000. The drugs were hidden in towns along the Gulf of Cádiz before being transported to other European countries.
