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Spanish authorities seize 2,600 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed beneath false bottoms in wooden crates used to transport coconuts from Ghana.
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The two containers, loaded at Tema Port on August 2, arrive at Valencia Port on August 22, 2026, where customs officials flag them for high-risk inspection.
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Investigators track the consignment from Valencia to a warehouse in AlmerÃa after the cargo is transferred into two refrigerated trucks.
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Two men, identified as the importer and the person responsible for receiving and unloading the goods, are arrested in Viator following a joint operation by Spain’s Tax Agency and Civil Guard.
November 12, (THEWILL) – Spanish authorities have seized 2,600 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in a shipment of coconuts from Ghana and arrested two men suspected of involvement in the importation and handling of the consignment.
The drugs were discovered inside two shipping containers at the Port of Valencia following a joint operation by Spain’s Tax Agency and the Civil Guard, which uncovered specially constructed false bottoms in wooden crates used to transport the declared cargo.
The operation, which culminated in the arrest of the two suspects in Viator, in the province of AlmerÃa, involved tracking the consignment from the port to a warehouse where the goods were taken for unloading.
The operation involved the Valencia and AlmerÃa Operational Units of the Customs Surveillance Service, as well as the Organised Crime Units and the Fiscal and Border Analysis and Investigation Unit (UDAIFF) of the Civil Guard Command in Valencia.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, November 11, the Spanish authorities said the containers had been loaded at the Port of Tema, Ghana, on August 2 and arrived at the Port of Valencia on August 22 aboard a container vessel.
The containers were selected for inspection by the Entry Summary Unit of the Sub-Directorate-General for Customs Surveillance Operations after routine monitoring of international trade identified them as presenting a high-risk profile.
During the inspection, customs officers discovered false bottoms fitted into the wooden crates containing the coconuts. Beneath the concealed structures, investigators found layers of packages commonly used for transporting cocaine.
The cocaine was not concealed inside the coconuts themselves but beneath specially constructed compartments in the wooden boxes.
The packages contained a white powdery substance suspected to be cocaine hydrochloride. Preliminary tests conducted with a narcotics detection kit confirmed the substance as cocaine, bringing the total quantity seized to 2,600 kilogrammes.
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Shipment Tracked to AlmerÃa Warehouse
Following the discovery and seizure of the drugs, investigators launched a surveillance operation to establish the consignment’s intended destination and identify those involved in its importation.
The authorities said that, after the relevant customs formalities had been completed, the remaining cargo was transferred into two refrigerated trucks, which were monitored as they departed the Port of Valencia.
The trucks travelled by road to a warehouse at the La Juaida industrial estate in Viator, AlmerÃa.
Officers maintained surveillance of the premises and monitored the unloading of the goods before moving in to arrest two men allegedly connected with the shipment.
The suspects were identified as the importer of the consignment and the individual responsible for receiving and unloading the cargo.
The two containers involved in the Spanish operation originated from Tema, one of Ghana’s principal commercial ports, before arriving in Valencia.
Felix Ifijeh is a journalist with years of professional reporting experience. Known for his keen news sense, compelling storytelling and commitment to accurate, impactful reporting, he has built a reputation for turning leads into clear, engaging, and well-structured reports that resonate with readers. His work reflects deep newsroom experience and a commitment to accurate, impactful journalism.
