Six Dutch nationals held in world’s biggest single cocaine bust

Six Dutch nationals are among 23 people remanded in custody after Spanish authorities confirmed that a cargo ship intercepted off the Canary Islands last week was carrying more than 30 tonnes of cocaine. It is the largest single shipment ever seized, according to Spain’s top criminal court.

In a judicial order on Wednesday, the court said the Comoros-flagged Arconian, boarded by state police on May 1, was loaded with 1,279 bales of cocaine weighing 30,215 kilos and worth an estimated street value of €812 million.

The figure is lower than the 35 to 50 tonnes the Spanish police union AUGC had been quoting earlier this week, but still more than double Spain’s previous record of 13 tonnes seized at the port of Algeciras in 2024.

It also dwarfs the biggest cocaine haul ever made in the Netherlands, when 8,064 kilos was found in a banana shipment at Rotterdam port in July 2023.

The six Dutch suspects, who were reportedly armed with assault rifles and pistols, are believed to have served as guards for the cargo. They were detained alongside 17 Filipino crew members.

The operation drew on intelligence from the Dutch national police and the US Drug Enforcement Administration. Investigators are examining links to Dutch organised crime networks and to Jos Leijdekkers – known as Bolle “chunky” Jos – one of the Netherlands’ most wanted criminals.

Earlier this week, Dutch prosecutors demanded a seven-month jail sentence for Leijdekkers’ father, who is accused of laundering a €110,000 Patek Philippe watch allegedly bought with his son’s drugs profits.