An international drug smuggling operation that used high-speed boats to move cocaine from South America to the Canary Islands has been brought down by police forces from Europe, South America, and the United States. The operation, codenamed Black Shadow, led to the seizure of nearly four tonnes of cocaine and the arrest of 48 suspects across multiple islands.
According to Spain’s Policia Nacional, the drug syndicate used 11 “narco boats” to traffic cocaine from Brazil and Colombia across the Atlantic Ocean. In a sophisticated strategy, they used an abandoned shipwreck at sea as a refuelling point for their boats, allowing them to cover long distances undetected.
The raids took place across Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria, and Lanzarote — all part of the Spanish-controlled Canary Islands, located just off the northwest coast of Africa. These islands have become a key transit point for cocaine entering Europe due to their strategic location.
Among those arrested was a British national, confirmed by the UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA), which supported the multinational investigation. Authorities also searched 29 properties and seized 69 vehicles, including boats and jet skis. Cash, firearms, and electronic equipment were also recovered.
Europol, the European Union’s law enforcement agency, revealed that the traffickers used encrypted communication tools, satellite terminals, and a coded language to avoid detection. This level of coordination shows the advanced tactics international drug networks now employ.
“This was a highly organised and dangerous network,” a Europol official said. “The group used fast boats repeatedly, departing from key points in the Atlantic to connect with a larger ‘mother ship’ carrying the cocaine.”
Spanish police described the group as “one of the largest criminal organisations” involved in cocaine smuggling and confirmed they had uncovered a local distribution network on the islands responsible for moving the drugs once they arrived from South America.
Footage released by Spanish police shows armed officers, dressed in black and wearing masks, storming homes, arresting suspects, and conducting extensive searches.
The Canary Islands have seen similar drug trafficking attempts in the past. In December, authorities intercepted a Venezuelan fishing boat located 1,000 miles out at sea. That vessel, which was so old and damaged it sank while being towed back to shore, was carrying over three tonnes of cocaine.
Law enforcement officials say these operations highlight the growing threat posed by international drug cartels using creative and risky methods to reach Europe’s booming drug market.
An NCA spokesperson commented: “Alongside our international partners, we are relentless in our efforts to tackle drug trafficking across borders, ensuring it’s seized before it reaches the UK criminal supply chain.”
Operation Black Shadow is being seen as a major win for international cooperation in the fight against drug trafficking, as authorities continue to monitor and target networks that span continents and use complex strategies to avoid detection.