The Spanish police and Navy, in collaboration with the US anti-drug agency (DEA), seized the cargo ship United S in the Atlantic Ocean, 535 kilometers from the Canary Islands. This represents the largest seizure of cocaine ever made at sea by European security forces: 9,994 kilograms. The Cameroonian-flagged vessel, with a crew of 13, was boarded by a special operations group of the Spanish police. The crew consisted of seven Indians, four Turks, and two Serbs, who were allegedly there to guarantee the cargo's delivery. One of them was armed. As emphasized by National Police's Central Brigade for Narcotics chief, Alberto Morales, the operation, named 'Marea Blanca' (White Tide), is significant due to the nearly 10 tons of drugs seized. This is the largest maritime seizure of cocaine since 1999. Morales stated that the cargo was intended for various criminal organizations prepared to collect it at sea. The ship, which had allegedly been carrying salt from Brazil to Turkey, was intercepted because of this imminent handover. Approximately one ton of cocaine, packed in 37 bales, was ready for immediate unloading on the starboard side. The rest of the cocaine was stored in one of the ship's two holds, with bales hidden between layers of salt cargo. An additional difficulty arose during the operation, as the ship ran out of fuel and adrift for nearly 12 hours, requiring it to be towed to the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The Spanish police investigation focused on an international organization allegedly involved in the export of 'vast quantities' of cocaine from South America to Europe. This operation is 'a powerful blow' to international criminal networks dedicated to maritime cocaine trafficking and 'demonstrates the effectiveness of international police cooperation' in the fight against global drug trafficking. The operation involved the US DEA, the UK's NCA, Brazil's Federal Police, the Maritime Coordination Center for Anti-Drug Trafficking in Lisbon, and authorities from France.
