Spain Sounding the Alarm on Drug Trafficking
The Public Prosecutor's Office in Spain has issued a stark warning regarding the increasing activities of drug trafficking networks, noting a concerning evolution in their methods and routes. The report emphasizes that cannabis originating from Morocco is making its way into Spain primarily through the Andalusian coasts, coinciding with a rise in drug-related violence, the proliferation of firearms, and the expansion of cocaine smuggling operations. This alarming trend was highlighted in the annual report for 2025, delivered at the opening of the judicial year at the Supreme Court in Madrid. The report describes drug trafficking as the "greatest threat" posed by organized crime and serious offenses.
Moroccan Cannabis Dominating the Andalusian Scene
According to the prosecutor's findings, Spain serves as a strategic location on global maritime routes for drug trafficking. It has been noted that cannabis cultivated in Morocco enters predominantly through the Andalusian coastline, while the majority of cocaine shipments from South America arrive via Spanish ports before being distributed across Europe. In the Andalusia region, Moroccan cannabis continues to be the most prevalent drug, with significant increases recorded in the quantities seized. For instance, authorities in Huelva intercepted over 63.1 tons of cannabis in 2025, compared to approximately 21 tons in 2024, marking a staggering increase of 201.8%.
In tandem with the rise in smuggling volumes, there has been a notable advancement in the tactics employed by criminal networks. These groups are increasingly utilizing large trailers equipped with hollow beams and double floors to conceal drugs, alongside digging tunnels beneath the borders in the Ceuta region. Furthermore, high-speed boats are now frequently operating from the Strait of Gibraltar towards the coasts of Huelva, Almeria, and Malaga, adopting new routes to evade security pressures.
The landscape of drug trafficking is not limited to cannabis, as the prosecutor's office has reported a significant expansion in cocaine smuggling, particularly in Cádiz, Seville, and Huelva. In Algeciras, cocaine continues to be introduced via containers, while semi-rigid boats are employed in areas like Barbate, Sanlúcar, and the Great River Valley to transport shipments loaded from ships at sea. In Almeria, the quantities of cocaine seized surged from 324 kilograms to an astonishing 1.255 tons—an increase of 287%. Meanwhile, seizures of Moroccan cannabis resin exceeded 18 tons, compared to about 4 tons the previous year, reflecting a dramatic rise of 350%.
The prosecutor's office attributes these shifts to the relocation of landing points to nearby geographical areas, where smuggling networks can anticipate less security scrutiny. Additionally, it has been noted that high-speed boats are now being employed not just for transporting cannabis, but are increasingly being utilized to ferry cocaine from vessels in the open sea, indicating a diversification in the operational methods of these criminal organizations.
In light of these developments, the Spanish Public Prosecutor has raised alarms about the escalating violence associated with drug networks in Andalusia. There has been a noticeable increase in the activities of organized and professional criminal groups that are utilizing firearms not only in conflicts with rival gangs but also openly against security forces. For example, in Cádiz, the report documented 24 actions related to firearm possession, including the seizure of four AK-47 rifles in Jerez and Sanlúcar during three operations, along with other automatic weapons and machine guns in areas such as Barbate and Chiclana. In Almeria, law enforcement confiscated 78 firearms, including several machine guns and a rocket launcher, while Seville also reported a rise in weapon seizures, coinciding with serious injuries sustained by a police officer during an operation in Coria del Río.
Ultimately, the Spanish prosecutor concluded that the scale, complexity, and violence of drug trafficking networks have outstripped the existing resources available to combat them. There is an urgent call for the enhancement of human, material, and legal resources to address this escalating threat. The prosecutor warned that the proliferation of these networks transcends a mere security issue, evolving into a direct threat to social stability, as drug trafficking organizations are increasingly undermining the foundations of social peace.
As reported by aljazairalyoum.dz.
