Ceuta, Spain – Police have entered a large drug tunnel beneath the border area after more than three weeks of pumping out floodwater, uncovering a complex underground smuggling system hidden below the frontier.

The tunnel was only accessed after technical teams carried out over three weeks of drainage work to remove water caused by heavy winter rains, which had completely submerged the structure until recent operations made entry possible.

The investigation has led to 27 arrests and the seizure of more than 17 tons of drugs. Authorities describe the dismantled system as a “network of networks” used for large-scale trafficking operations.

Inside the tunnel, investigators discovered a multi-level structure rather than a simple passage. The upper access point was hidden behind a large soundproof refrigerator and contained a vertical descent shaft.

A second underground chamber served as a storage area, where bundles of hashish were stacked on pallets before being transported onward.

The deepest section, referred to as the final line, connects directly to Morocco. It is described as a maze-like underground route resembling a mine, and it is the section now physically reached after water removal.

Authorities also identified a mechanical transport system inside the tunnel, including rails, wagons, pulleys, and cranes used to move drug shipments. This system allowed cargo to be transferred without direct visual contact between participants.

To maintain operations in a water-affected environment, the network relied on pumping systems and heavy soundproofing. Two powerful drainage pumps operated continuously, while insulation reduced noise to avoid detection.

The investigation began in February 2025 and identified two main leaders: one based locally managing shipments, and another based in Morocco who was arrested on March 26 and described as the tunnel’s architect. He is also linked to a previously discovered tunnel in the same area.

More than 250 officers were deployed across multiple regions, including Ceuta, Málaga, Huelva, Cádiz, and Pontevedra. Authorities also seized 1,430,000 euros in cash, 66 communication devices, and 15 luxury vehicles.

Officials say the operation dismantled a major underground drug corridor used by international criminal groups adapting their routes under increased border pressure.

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