DEA Seizes Record Cocaine Haul in Canary Islands
The DEA intercepted nearly 10 tons of cocaine off the Canary Islands. Is this a major victory or mere theater?
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
DEA intercepts record cocaine haul in Canary Islands: 9,994 kilos
The seizure of nearly 10 tons of cocaine aboard the cargo ship United S, located 535 kilometers from the Canary Islands, has been presented as a historic blow to drug trafficking. However, the operation, led by the DEA with support from Spain's GEO and MAOC, leaves as many questions as answers. The drugs, valued at €300 million wholesale and up to €1.5 billion on the street, were hidden in a shipment of salt, a product abundantly produced in Spain. What interest is there in moving salt from Cameroon to Europe? The data does not add up.
How much cocaine actually entered?
The official narrative applauds the 9,994 kilos seized, but skeptical comments quickly point out the detail of the six kilos missing to round up to ten tons. "No one sends 9,994 kilos; either you send 10,000 or you don't send anything," one sector ironizes. The suspicion that part of the haul is diverted before seizure is recurrent. If this is the capture made public, how many tons pass unnoticed? Cocaine consumption in Europe is at historic highs, and routes pass through Spain.
The DEA, the GEO, and the shadow of the traficante-state
The joint operation with the DEA arouses distrust. It is criticized that the US agency had to lead the action, while Spanish police only "find out what happens" when Americans press. The 13 crew members—seven Indians, four Turks, and two Serbs—are described as "notaries of the journey," tasked with protecting the cargo. There are no Spaniards among those detained, leading some to wonder if the drugs were destined for other European ports.
The theater of the war on drugs
"Under Franco there was no drugs; now there are because they want them," is the conclusion of those who see these operations as mere theater to pacify public opinion. The fact that drugs reach the streets without affecting prices feeds the theory that the State allows large-scale trafficking and only intervenes when convenient. The record seizure, instead of being a success, is interpreted as a sample of how much remains uncontrolled.
Related forum debates
The seizure of nearly 10 tons of cocaine aboard the cargo ship United S, located 535 kilometers from the Canary Islands, has been presented as a historic blow to drug trafficking. However, the operation, led by the DEA with support from Spain's GEO and MAOC, leaves as many questions as answers. The drugs, valued at €300 million wholesale and up to €1.5 billion on the street, were hidden in a shipment of salt, a product abundantly produced in Spain. What interest is there in moving salt from Cameroon to Europe? The data does not add up.
How much cocaine actually entered?
The official narrative applauds the 9,994 kilos seized, but skeptical comments quickly point out the detail of the six kilos missing to round up to ten tons. "No one sends 9,994 kilos; either you send 10,000 or you don't send anything," one sector ironizes. The suspicion that part of the haul is diverted before seizure is recurrent. If this is the capture made public, how many tons pass unnoticed? Cocaine consumption in Europe is at historic highs, and routes pass through Spain.
The DEA, the GEO, and the shadow of the traficante-state
The joint operation with the DEA arouses distrust. It is criticized that the US agency had to lead the action, while Spanish police only "find out what happens" when Americans press. The 13 crew members—seven Indians, four Turks, and two Serbs—are described as "notaries of the journey," tasked with protecting the cargo. There are no Spaniards among those detained, leading some to wonder if the drugs were destined for other European ports.
The theater of the war on drugs
"Under Franco there was no drugs; now there are because they want them," is the conclusion of those who see these operations as mere theater to pacify public opinion. The fact that drugs reach the streets without affecting prices feeds the theory that the State allows large-scale trafficking and only intervenes when convenient. The record seizure, instead of being a success, is interpreted as a sample of how much remains uncontrolled.
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Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (127 replies).
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