Lorraine Williamson
Spanish investigators have dismantled one of Europe’s most sophisticated drug networks after a two-year probe exposed the Canary Islands as a crucial crossroads for cocaine and hashish trafficking. The Guardia Civil confirmed 34 arrests and nearly 40 raids across Spain in a sweeping operation codenamed Silbo, backed by the US Drug Enforcement Administration, Europol, and Cape Verde police.
The case centres on a 42-year-old Tenerife businessman who built a glittering public profile in nightlife, restaurants, and construction while allegedly running a global narcotics empire from the islands. Investigators say he used a maze of Spanish and overseas companies to launder millions through property deals, fishing interests, and even a car-rental firm that doubled as a smuggling tool.
Mother ships and African routes
Behind the glossy façade, the network arranged large-scale cocaine shipments from South America using so-called “mother ships”. Smaller boats under the ringleader’s control collected the cargo on the high seas before landing it in the Canaries. In January 2024, officers intercepted 500 kg of cocaine bound for Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Ten months later, they seized another 1,600 kg after the gang attempted to use a fishing vessel based in Guinea-Bissau to exploit the notorious West African corridor.
The organisation also moved Moroccan hashish through the islands for onward transport to the UK, with meetings traced to known British traffickers on the Costa del Sol.
Violence behind the glamour
Despite its corporate front, the group relied on muscle. Two enforcers – a Cuban and a Colombian with military training – carried out kidnappings and forced property takeovers, including an attempt to seize land in the Tenerife municipality of Candelaria. In April this year, agents found 66 kg of cocaine hidden inside a rental car using a hydraulic compartment, a load allegedly stolen from a rival gang after one of its members was abducted.
Spain is witnessing a significant increase in cocaine trafficking
Global policing effort
Operation Silbo drew on unprecedented international cooperation, with Spain’s elite Central Operative Unit (UCO), customs surveillance teams, the US DEA, and Cape Verde’s judicial police working under Europol coordination. Raids stretched beyond the islands to Madrid, Barcelona, Pontevedra, A Coruña, and Málaga, underlining the organisation’s national reach.
The dramatic takedown underscores Spain’s role as Europe’s Atlantic gateway for cocaine and the growing use of African maritime routes to bypass traditional Caribbean corridors. Authorities say the investigation continues as they trace hidden assets and seek further arrests linked to the Canary Islands drug empire.