Canary Islands, Spain – A Spanish police special operations team, supported by the Navy, intercepted a cargo vessel carrying about 4,000 kilograms of cocaine, valued at roughly $170 million, some 600 miles off the Canary Islands.

The operation began in early October following a tip-off from the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) about an international criminal organization attempting to transport a massive cocaine shipment across the Atlantic.

The seized ship, a Tanzanian-flagged supply vessel measuring over 54 meters in length, 12 meters in width, and 4.5 meters in depth, had departed from the Panamanian port of Cristobal Anch, heading toward Vigo as its final destination.

Under the direction of Spain’s Special Anti-Drug Prosecutor’s Office and with naval support, the National Police coordinated a large-scale operation to track and intercept the vessel.

On October 22 at around 9:30 PM, special operations agents from the GEO unit boarded the ship from a Navy vessel. Once onboard, they detained nine crew members and discovered concealed compartments believed to hold the cocaine.

Authorities said the operation was made possible through international cooperation and swift coordination between the DEA, Spanish Navy, and National Police.

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