In a collaborative effort involving the Spanish Civil Guard, Europol, and Italian anti-mafia investigators, a significant blow was dealt to a criminal network linked to drug trafficking in Spain's

Canary Islands. This operation, codenamed "Adriática," culminated in the confiscation of 700 kilograms (approximately 1,540 pounds) of cocaine and the apprehension of four individuals associated with the 'Ndrangheta, Italy's formidable mafia group, and a Balkan-based cartel. The successful operation highlights the capacity of major European criminal organizations to deploy their operatives over extended periods across multiple locations and underscores the geostrategic significance of the Canary Islands in maritime drug smuggling. Furthermore, it reaffirms the growing collaboration between European mafias and Latin American cartels in the importation of substantial quantities of methamphetamine and cocaine into the European Union, as indicated by a joint Europol-DEA analysis conducted in 2022.

Among the detainees are two Italian nationals with ties to the 'Ndrangheta and a Croatian individual associated with a Balkan-based cartel, as disclosed by the Spanish Civil Guard. The operation commenced with the tracking of a Polish-flagged sailboat that had temporarily docked on Gran Canaria, an island in the Canary Islands archipelago. Following the exchange of information with Croatian authorities, investigators determined that the vessel was being utilized for cocaine smuggling from Latin America.

Over the course of several months of surveillance, the three suspects, who lacked any known legitimate employment, sustained a lavish lifestyle and focused exclusively on maintaining the sailboat, named Rossio, in optimal condition. According to investigators, they occasionally embarked on brief outings to create the illusion that the boat was used for conventional leisure activities. However, this facade was shattered when an extraordinary voyage began on July 27. "The sailboat Rossio, with two Italian crew members on board, commenced its westward journey, covering over 750 nautical miles," stated the investigators. The journey's destination was an isolated point in the Atlantic Ocean. The vessel initiated its return journey on August 2, and three days later, the Special Intervention Unit intercepted the Rossio, uncovering packages containing 700 kilograms of cocaine. At that juncture, the sailboat was situated 500 nautical miles northwest of Gran Canaria.

Consequently, the two individuals aboard the vessel were apprehended, and simultaneously, two additional suspects, a Croatian national and a Serbian citizen, were detained in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The investigation revealed that they were responsible for coordinating the operation. "At the time of their arrest, they were found in possession of cell phones through which they issued instructions to the crew," reported the police.

This joint operation was executed by the Spanish Civil Guard under the coordination of Europol, in collaboration with the national police forces of Croatia and Serbia, as well as Italy's Anti-Mafia Investigation Directorate based in Palermo. Photo by USAFRICOM from Stuttgart, Germany, Wikimedia commons.