Spanish law enforcement authorities have arrested two men after uncovering 2.6 tonnes of cocaine hidden beneath a shipment of coconuts exported from Ghana, in another major international drug seizure linked to cargo originating from the country.
The cocaine was discovered in two shipping containers that left the Tema Port on August 2 and arrived at Spain’s Port of Valencia 20 days later.
Customs officials and the Guardia Civil flagged the containers for inspection after identifying them as high-risk shipments potentially linked to drug trafficking.
A subsequent search revealed several packages of cocaine concealed beneath false compartments built into the wooden crates used to transport the coconuts.
Laboratory tests later confirmed that the white substance recovered from the containers was cocaine, weighing approximately 2.6 tonnes.
Rather than immediately proceeding with arrests, investigators removed the drugs while keeping the containers sealed. The decision allowed them to track the shipment and establish the identities of the individuals expected to receive the cargo.
The surveillance operation eventually led officers to two refrigerated lorries that arrived to collect the containers. Investigators followed the vehicles to a warehouse at the La Juaida industrial estate in Almería.
Police moved in when the cargo was being unloaded, arresting two men at the scene. The suspects were identified as the alleged importer of the cocaine and the individual overseeing the unloading process.
Spanish authorities announced the details of the operation on Wednesday, November 11, 2026.
The latest seizure adds to a growing number of international drug interceptions involving shipments originating from Ghana, particularly consignments transported through the country’s seaports.
The use of legitimate commercial goods, such as coconuts, to conceal narcotics also highlights the methods traffickers employ to move illegal substances across international borders while attempting to evade routine customs checks.
