Spain Pulls Off Biggest Cocaine Seizure in World History: 30 Tonnes from Single Vessel

30 Tonnes — The Biggest Single Seizure Ever

Spanish law enforcement has broken a world record. Operation Abisal, carried out on May 1, saw the interception of the vessel MV Arconian off the West African coast, with approximately 30 tonnes of cocaine on board — the single largest drugs seizure in recorded history.

When officers boarded the MV Arconian, they found it was no ordinary cargo ship. Six armed guards were on board, carrying MP4 assault rifles and Glock pistols. All were detained as part of the operation.

Over 41 Tonnes Seized in Under a Month

Operation Abisal did not stand alone. Just weeks earlier, Operation Alfa-Lima — running from April 13 to 26 — had netted nearly 11 tonnes of cocaine, along with 8.5 tonnes of hashish and 21 kilograms of marijuana. That operation spanned multiple provinces: Huelva, Cádiz, Málaga, Jaén, Almería, Murcia, Ceuta, and Algeciras.

Combined, the two operations brought the total to more than 41 tonnes of cocaine seized in less than a month — an extraordinary concentration of enforcement success in a single period.

Across both operations, 77 people were arrested and approximately 30,000 litres of fuel were also seized.

A Multinational Effort

The operations involved not just Spanish agencies but an international coalition. Working alongside Spain's Guardia Civil, Spanish Navy, and Customs Surveillance were Portugal's National Republican Guard and Italy's Financial Police — reflecting the cross-border nature of the trafficking networks being targeted.

Interior Minister Hails Strategic Shift

Spain's Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska said: "Beyond the operational success, both operations demonstrate our ability to make a significant strategic leap in how we approach the fight against transnational organised crime."

This article is based on reporting from Spanish News Today, published May 8, 2026.