Spain Identifies Morocco as a Major Source of Cannabis
The Spanish public prosecutor's office has officially designated Morocco as a significant source of cannabis entering the shores of Andalusia, located in southern Spain. This declaration comes at a time when drug trafficking networks are expanding their activities, employing increasingly sophisticated methods and routes, amidst a concerning rise in violence and the proliferation of firearms. The information was disclosed in the prosecutor's annual report for 2025, presented during the opening of the judicial year at the Supreme Court in Madrid. The report emphasizes that drug trafficking presents the "greatest threat" stemming from organized crime and serious offenses.
According to the Spanish prosecutor's office, Spain serves as a strategic hub on global maritime drug routes. The report highlights that cannabis cultivated in Morocco enters Europe through the Andalusian coasts, while a majority of the cocaine from South America arrives via ports before being distributed across Europe. This information was relayed by the newspaper "Info Bay" based on the prosecutor's findings.
Significant Increases in Drug Seizures and Violence
In Andalusia, cannabis from Morocco has consistently been the most prevalent drug; however, authorities have reported a dramatic increase in seizures across various regions. In Huelva, authorities confiscated 63,103 kilograms of cannabis in 2025, a staggering rise from 20,975 kilograms in 2024, marking a 201.8% increase according to Spanish media reports based on prosecutor data. This surge is accompanied by notable advancements in smuggling techniques, such as the use of large trailers equipped with hollow beams for double flooring and the digging of tunnels beneath the border in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta. Additionally, fast boats are increasingly moving from the Strait of Gibraltar towards the coasts of Huelva, Almería, and Málaga.
Simultaneously, the prosecutor's office has observed a growing trend in cocaine trafficking, which has gained significant traction in Cádiz, Seville, and Huelva. In Algeciras, cocaine is still being introduced via containers, while semi-rigid boats are utilized in regions like Barbate, Sanlúcar, and the Guadalquivir River to transport cocaine loaded from ships offshore. The report from "Andalucía Información" reveals that in Almería, cocaine seizures surged from 324 kilograms to 1,255 kilograms, a 287% increase. Furthermore, the confiscation of Moroccan hashish resin exceeded 18 tons compared to approximately 4 tons the previous year, reflecting a 350% increase. The prosecutor attributes these changes to a shift in landing points towards neighboring geographical areas where networks anticipate reduced security pressure.
Moreover, fast boats are no longer solely dedicated to transporting cannabis; they are now being used "naturally" for cocaine transport from ships at sea. The prosecutor has also raised alarms about the escalating violence associated with drug networks in Andalusia, noting the emergence of organized and professional criminal networks that wield weapons not only against rival gangs but also "openly" against law enforcement agencies.
The report indicated that in Cádiz, 24 actions were recorded regarding firearm possession, with four AK-47 rifles confiscated in Jerez and Sanlúcar during three operations, alongside automatic weapons and machine guns in areas like Barbate and Chiclana. In Almería, 78 firearms were seized, including several machine guns and a rocket launcher, while Seville also witnessed an uptick in weapon seizures, with a police officer sustaining serious injuries during an operation in "Coria del Río." The prosecutor concluded that the scale, complexity, and violence of drug networks have surpassed the available means to combat them, necessitating a "urgent and necessary" enhancement of human, material, and legal resources, as the phenomenon "undermines the foundations of social peace."
As reported by aps.dz.
