Spain Seizes 2.6 Tonnes Of Cocaine Hidden In Coconut Shipment From Ghana
Spanish security authorities have intercepted 2.6 tonnes of cocaine concealed in a consignment of coconuts shipped from Ghana, arresting two suspects following investigations into the movement of the cargo.
The drugs were discovered in two containers loaded at the Tema Port on August 2, 2026, and transported to Spain, where customs officials and the Guardia Civil flagged them for inspection upon their arrival at the Port of Valencia 20 days later.
According to Spanish authorities, the containers were selected for examination after they were identified as high-risk shipments for possible drug trafficking.
A detailed search revealed packages of cocaine hidden beneath false compartments built into the wooden crates used to transport the coconuts. Subsequent tests confirmed that the substance recovered was cocaine.
Rather than immediately removing the containers from circulation, investigators took out the drugs and kept the cargo sealed to monitor its movement and establish who would receive the shipment.
Their surveillance led them to two refrigerated trucks that arrived to collect the containers. Officers followed the vehicles to a warehouse at the La Juaida industrial estate in Almería.
Two men were arrested when the coconuts were being unloaded. Spanish authorities identified them as the suspected importer of the drugs and the individual overseeing the unloading operation.
The Guardia Civil announced the seizure on Wednesday, November 11, 2026, through its social media platforms, confirming that the operation was conducted jointly with customs officials.
Other major drug seizures linked to Ghana
The latest interception adds to several cases in which international authorities have uncovered narcotics hidden in export consignments originating from Ghana.
In September 2026, French customs officials intercepted nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine concealed in a container carrying plastic waste from Ghana at the Port of Dunkirk. The drugs were estimated to be worth about €225 million, equivalent to approximately US$261 million.
The development prompted investigations in Ghana, leading the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) to announce the arrest of three suspects. Additional arrests were later made, with several individuals appearing before the courts over their alleged involvement in the shipment.
The case also raised questions about the inspection of export containers at the Tema Port, particularly after reports emerged about irregularities identified in scan images before the containers were cleared for shipment.
In a separate incident, Lebanese authorities arrested a Syrian national at Beirut’s Rafic Hariri International Airport on October 31, 2026, after he arrived from Accra with approximately 40 kilogrammes of suspected cocaine concealed in two suitcases.
NACOC confirmed the arrest and indicated that it was collaborating with Lebanese authorities to track down other individuals suspected of being involved in the operation in Ghana.
There were also significant interceptions involving Ghanaian shipments in Europe in 2025.
Belgian authorities seized 2,829 kilogrammes of cocaine hidden in a consignment of cassava flour shipped from Tema to Antwerp in November that year. Another 1,158 kilogrammes of suspected cocaine originating from Ghana was intercepted at the same port in December.
Earlier, in June 2025, Dutch customs officials discovered 4.5 tonnes of cocaine concealed in a timber shipment from Tema at the Port of Amsterdam. The seizure was described at the time as the largest in the port’s history.
Beyond cocaine, Ghana-linked shipments have also featured in other international narcotics investigations. In June 2026, Australian authorities announced the interception of 320 kilogrammes of methamphetamine concealed in a consignment of charcoal from Ghana.
