Europol’s Major Cocaine Crackdown

In a significant breakthrough against cocaine trafficking, Europol has announced the success of two major operations in Spain and Portugal, resulting in the seizure of over four tonnes of cocaine and the arrest of more than 60 individuals. These operations, conducted between November 2024 and September 2025, highlight the evolving tactics used by criminal networks to smuggle drugs into Europe.

The first operation, which took place on September 3, 2025, was spearheaded by the Portuguese Judiciary Police and the Spanish Guardia Civil, with support from the U.S. DEA and Dominican Republic authorities. This effort led to the arrest of 12 individuals involved in smuggling cocaine hidden inside cowhides, a method designed to evade detection by port scanners and drug-sniffing dogs. The operation also resulted in the seizure of 2,232 kilograms of cocaine and EUR 150,000 in cash.

A second operation on September 10, 2025, saw Europol collaborating with Spanish Customs and Guardia Civil to dismantle another network using various vessels to transport cocaine from South America to Europe. This action led to 37 arrests, including a high-value target, and the seizure of EUR 600,000, 200 frozen bank accounts, and numerous vehicles and properties. A cocaine cutting laboratory was also dismantled during the operation.

Europol’s coordinated strategy focuses on both intercepting drug shipments and dismantling the networks that facilitate cocaine trafficking. With Europe emerging as a primary market for cocaine, these operations underscore the need for collaborative international efforts to combat organized crime and secure European borders.