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Spanish police intercept 15 tons of hashish concealed in Moroccan watermelon truck
Spanish police, in coordination with Moroccan and French authorities, have seized over 15 tons of hashish smuggled from Morocco, hidden within a shipment of watermelons. The truck, which arrived at the port of Almería, was found to contain 13.3 tons of the drug ingeniously concealed among watermelon pallets and inside fake sweet potatoes.
International operation dismantles trafficking network
The operation, which resulted in the arrest of five individuals, including the truck driver and logistical operatives, was the culmination of months of international collaboration. Spanish authorities worked closely with Morocco’s General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) and France’s anti-narcotics office (OFAST) to trace the activities of a Spanish-Moroccan criminal network trafficking hashish into Europe.
According to a statement from Spanish police, the investigation began in early June when OFAST alerted them to the group’s plans to smuggle drugs using agricultural shipments. By exploiting routine truck deliveries between Morocco and Spain, the network sought to evade detection.
Discovery of cleverly disguised contraband
Investigators tracked the truck to a warehouse in an industrial zone, where dozens of packages of hashish were discovered hidden among watermelon pallets. Additional drugs were found in sacks resembling sweet potatoes, which had been hollowed out and used as containers to bypass inspections.
A victory for cross-border cooperation
Authorities hailed the operation as a prime example of international collaboration in combating organized crime. The five suspects, charged with drug trafficking and involvement in a criminal organization, have been placed in pretrial detention as investigations continue.