National Police and Civil Guard agents made multiple seizures in the Port of Vigo and along the coast of Barbate, preventing transnational drug trafficking organizations from obtaining 650 and 772 kilograms of product, respectively.
The National Police investigation targeted a Colombian cartel that had tried to expand its interests in Spain through the fresh fruit trade shared between the two countries.
The authorities became aware of the group's activities following a 3.7-tonne cocaine bust by the Colombian Anti-Narcotics Department in March. During their inspection, Colombian agents found that 1.3 tonnes of the cartel's product, hidden among a container shipment of bananas, was destined for the Port of Vigo.
Using this information, National Police agents were able to locate another shipment over the weekend, where they discovered 650 kilograms of cocaine with a 90% purity. The drugs were hidden in banana pallets.
The head trafficker is said to operate in the Campo de Gibraltar county, but authorities have not yet identified their main target.
Not to be outdone, Spain's Civil Guard confiscated 772 kilograms of cocaine in their own bust, which took place along the country's southern coast near Barbate.
After observing a sailboat behaving suspiciously near some cliffs, marine units raided the area at dawn and forced the traffickers to flee before they could be captured. A subsequent search of the shoreline revealed the cache where the drugs were stored, along with several firearms.
Police have yet to identify the perpetrators.
