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Innovative Cocaine Smuggling Ring Busted in Spain: The ‘Monkeys’ Technique
Published: 2026/01/16 07:58:50
Spanish authorities have dismantled a complex drug trafficking network employing a daring and unconventional method to smuggle cocaine from Colombia into Europe. The operation, revealed on Thursday, involved young, skilled swimmers – dubbed ”monkeys” – who covertly loaded drugs onto cargo ships in the high seas, alongside more customary hijacking tactics. This bust highlights the evolving strategies of transnational criminal organizations and the challenges faced by law enforcement in combating the illicit drug trade.
The ”Monkeys” Technique: A Novel Approach to Drug Trafficking
The core of this network’s innovation lay in the ”monkeys” technique. According to police statements,this involved recruiting young,physically fit individuals,frequently enough from low-income backgrounds,to swim out to vessels at sea and attach packages of cocaine to their hulls [[1]]. This method allowed the smugglers to bypass traditional port security measures and directly load the drugs onto ships destined for Europe. Cocaine, a powerful stimulant derived from coca leaves, carries critically important risks due to its highly addictive nature [[2]].