Story perspectives

Europol Seizes 12 Tons Cocaine, 9.5 Tons Hashish

5/11/2026

Summary

Story summary

Law enforcement seized over 12 tons of cocaine and 9.5 tons of hashish, breaking a trans-Atlantic drug corridor.
Europol ran a two-week operation (April 13 to April 26) that targeted fragmented maritime routes, intercepted eight vessels and arrested 54 people between the Canary Islands and the Azores.
Deputy executive director Jean-Philippe Lecouffe said the seizure hit the cocaine highway and showed networks are becoming more flexible and internationally connected.

History

Historical Context

Since its 1973 creation, the DEA has allocated substantial resources to global overseas drug interdiction—$445 million for international enforcement in 2018—and partnered with European agencies. Building on earlier trans-Atlantic interdictions, Europol’s April 2024 operation seized more than 12 tons of cocaine, showing that coordinated maritime actions remain a core strategy against trans-Atlantic trafficking.

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Story summary

Law enforcement seized over 12 tons of cocaine and 9.5 tons of hashish, breaking a trans-Atlantic drug corridor.
Europol ran a two-week operation (April 13 to April 26) that targeted fragmented maritime routes, intercepted eight vessels and arrested 54 people between the Canary Islands and the Azores.
Deputy executive director Jean-Philippe Lecouffe said the seizure hit the cocaine highway and showed networks are becoming more flexible and internationally connected.

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