Monaco Journal - Spain seizes largest-ever cocaine haul

NYSE - LSE
RIO 0.41% 94.55 $
NGG 1.51% 76.09 $
CMSD -1.05% 19.722 $
BCC -0.9% 75.29 $
GSK -1.44% 48.65 $
JRI 0.09% 10.78 $
BCE 1.25% 20.395 $
RYCEF -1.29% 19.31 $
BTI -0.32% 54.675 $
AZN -0.66% 163.135 $
VOD -0.49% 16.25 $
RELX 0.17% 33.295 $
BP 1.02% 43.97 $
RBGPF -3.08% 65 $
CMSC -0.93% 19.57 $
Spain seizes largest-ever cocaine haul
Spain seizes largest-ever cocaine haul / Photo: JORGE GUERRERO - AFP

Spain seizes largest-ever cocaine haul

Spanish police said Wednesday that they had seized 13 tonnes of cocaine -- the country's largest-ever haul of the drug -- and made one arrest.

Text size:

Police and customs agents intercepted the cocaine in the southern port of Algeciras on October 14 from a container ship that had arrived from Ecuador's largest city Guayaquil, a drug-trafficking hub.

The ship carried crates of bananas that concealed identically designed boxes containing the cocaine, and intelligence from Ecuadoran police tipped off the Spanish authorities.

A woman believed to be a partner of the importing company was arrested in the central Spanish city of Toledo and two other suspects are on the run, police said.

Spain is a main entry point for drugs into Europe because of its close ties with former colonies in Latin America and its proximity to Morocco, a top cannabis producer.

G.Ricci--MJ