In an international operation that represents one of the biggest blows to drug trafficking blows to drug trafficking in Ibiza’s recent in Ibiza’s recent history, authorities have seized 1,100 kilos of cocaine transported on a sailboat from the island. According to authorities, this amount represents the largest seizure linked to a boat originating on the island. The vessel, christened Maria del Mar, was intercepted north of Suriname after an exhaustive follow-up coordinated between the Tax Agency, the National Police and French Customs.
A key intervention in Caribbean waters
The operation culminated on February 26, when a French Customs patrol boat boarded the sailboat, which had begun its return to Europe. According to the authorities, the crew attempted to set fire to the vessel to destroy the drugs, but the fire was quickly brought under control. In the bow storage room, agents found multiple bales totaling 1.1 tons of cocaine.
Among those arrested were three Spanish nationals residing in Ibiza, including the owner of the boat and his partner, as well as a Colombian national who allegedly acted as a liaison to ensure the transport of the drugs. All of them were arrested on the spot and transferred to Martinique, where statements were taken and the seized electronic devices were analyzed.
Tracking from Ibiza to the Caribbean
The investigation began in 2022, when the María del Mar, a 15-meter sloop sailboat, was acquired by an Ibizan resident with a history of drug trafficking. Since then, the Maritime Intelligence Office of the Balearic Islands and the Central Narcotics Brigade of the National Police began an exhaustive monitoring of the vessel, including the collection of data on its movements and activities. In December 2023, the sailboat departed from Ibiza and crossed the Strait of Gibraltar, heading towards Cape Verde, where its location was confirmed in February 2024. This itinerary raised suspicions about a possible transatlantic journey to pick up cocaine in South America, which activated international collaboration protocols through the MAOC-N (Maritime Analysis and Operations Center for Drug Trafficking). The discovery of 1,100 kilos of cocaine on a boat from Ibiza marks a milestone in the fight against drug trafficking in the region. The operation also highlights the effectiveness of international cooperation in combating transnational criminal networks. The case is still under investigation, and further arrests related to this network are not ruled out.
