Spanish security forces have seized more than 1.6 tonnes of cocaine on the Galician Costa da Morte and arrested 26 suspects. The coordinated operation by Policía Nacional, Guardia Civil and the customs surveillance service Servicio de Vigilancia Aduanera targeted a network based in Muxía (province of A Coruña) that brought large quantities of drugs into Spain by sea. The criminal investigation is being led by the Audiencia Nacional.
The operation followed information gathered since early 2025. It was prompted by the discovery of a semi-submersible craft on the beach at Os Muiños in Muxía. According to investigators, the group used the rugged coastline of the Costa da Morte to make unobserved landings. To transport the cargo from the handover point at sea to shore, the perpetrators used Embarcaciones de Alta Velocidad (high-speed boats) and chose remote coves without direct road access to evade checks.
The 26 people now under arrest are alleged to have belonged to a division-of-labour organisation specialising in smuggling large consignments of cocaine into the Iberian Peninsula. According to the investigation, one of those arrested is a member of the Guardia Civil. Investigators attribute the seizure of more than 1.6 tonnes of cocaine to long-term monitoring of the modus operandi, which enabled a coordinated operation involving several agencies.
The operation is part of a series of maritime successes for Spanish law enforcement. Galicia’s coast has for years been regarded as a gateway for cocaine smuggling because of its topography and proximity to Atlantic routes. Security agencies report increasing use of semi-submersible craft and fast launches to bring larger consignments ashore discreetly. Cooperation between the Policía Nacional, Guardia Civil and Servicio de Vigilancia Aduanera aims to disrupt both offshore handover points and logistical networks on land.
The public prosecutor’s office and the Audiencia Nacional are examining the evidence seized and the roles of the accused. Separate internal investigations are clarifying possible involvement by public officials. Further judicial measures, such as pre-trial detention and asset freezes, are possible. Details of specific charges and the forensic examination of the drugs and communications equipment seized were not available by the time of publication.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).