The key facts in detail
The intercepted ship is named Arconian, measures 90 metres and flies the flag of Comoros. On board, according to the estimate of the Audiencia Nacional, were between 30 and 45 tonnes of cocaine, distributed across roughly 1,500 sacks of 25 to 30 kilograms each. 23 people were arrested.
The ship was escorted by the ocean-going patrol vessel Duque de Ahumada and the patrol boat Río Guadiato into the port of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where the official weighing takes place. The investigation lies with the Audiencia Nacional under judicial secrecy.
The Sierra Leone → Libya route
The ship had left Freetown, Sierra Leone, on 22 April. Its declared destination: the Libyan port of Bengasi. A route of around 7,000 to 8,000 kilometres, which would have rounded the entire African continent.
Sierra Leone itself is not a classic cocaine origin country — the drugs continue to come from Latin America. What has grown in West Africa in recent years is the function of a logistics hub: ships pick up cargo in ports with lax controls, then run it to Europe via the Canary route or the Mediterranean. That Bengasi is listed as the destination port is, in that context, a classic indicator: Libya, with two rival governments and unclear port control, has for years been a preferred discharge or transhipment point.
Comparison with previous records
The previous Spanish open-sea record stood at around 10 tonnes — the United S operation of January 2026, with a ship from Brazil whose cargo was hidden in salt and discovered 545 kilometres west of El Hierro. The previous Spanish land-based record stood at 13 tonnes. In international comparison, 20 tonnes from Philadelphia were considered the world record for a single operation.
| Case | Place and time | Quantity | Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arconian | South of Gran Canaria, May 2026 | 30 to 45 tonnes | Possible Spanish high-sea seizure record |
| Previous Atlantic seizures | Spain and Europe | usually far lower | Comparability depends on laboratory and court checks |
| Current procedural stage | Guardia Civil and Audiencia Nacional | preliminary investigation figures | Quantity and evidence still need judicial confirmation |
At 45 tonnes — if the upper end of the estimate is confirmed — the Arconian operation would be more than double anything previously achieved in Spain or Europe.
The Atlantic route
The combination of Spain's two largest cocaine seizures in four months — both off the Canaries, both at open sea — is not a coincidence. As the Diario de Avisos writes, several UN and DEA reports in recent years describe the Atlantic route as the fastest-growing corridor for cocaine trafficking into Europe. The Canaries lie geographically exactly where lines coming from Latin America cross with African logistics ports.
What comes next
The 23 arrested will be brought before a judge of the Audiencia Nacional in the coming days. Official weighing in the port of Las Palmas will clarify whether the estimate sits at the lower or higher end of the 30-45-tonne range. The investigation itself may run for months — clarifying the ownership of a Comoros-flagged ship is among the most stubborn chapters of international drug investigation.
Frequently asked questions
When and where was the Arconian intercepted?
The Guardia Civil intercepted the cargo ship Arconian on Friday 1 May 2026, south of Gran Canaria. The operation was made public on Sunday 3 May.
How much cocaine was found on the Arconian?
According to the estimate of the Audiencia Nacional, on board were between 30 and 45 tonnes of cocaine, distributed across roughly 1,500 sacks of 25-30 kilograms each.
What route was the Arconian sailing?
The Arconian had left Freetown, Sierra Leone, on 22 April 2026, with the Libyan port of Bengasi as its declared destination — a route of 7,000 to 8,000 kilometres around the African continent.
Is this Spain's largest cocaine seizure?
If the higher figure of 45 tonnes is confirmed, this is the largest open-sea seizure in Spanish history. The previous open-sea record was 10 tonnes (United S, January 2026), the land-based record 13 tonnes.
Who is investigating the Arconian case?
The investigation lies with the Audiencia Nacional in Madrid under judicial secrecy. The arrests were carried out by the Guardia Civil with escort from the ocean-going patrol vessel Duque de Ahumada and the patrol boat Río Guadiato.