Europol Dismantles Major Cocaine Ring Linking South America, Spain, and Iceland

Europol has officially announced the successful dismantling of a sophisticated transnational criminal organization following a massive international operation conducted in early February 2026. This illicit network specialized in the distribution of cocaine, MDMA, methamphetamine, and ketamine, moving these substances from South America into Iceland. Spain served as the primary transit hub for these operations. Coordinated by Eurojust in The Hague, the crackdown resulted in 24 arrests across five different jurisdictions, highlighting a significant milestone in cross-border legal cooperation against organized crime.

The investigation, which saw collaboration between law enforcement in Lithuania, Spain, and Iceland, uncovered a highly complex logistical framework. Supported by Europol and Eurojust, authorities revealed that the syndicate employed ingenious smuggling techniques. Couriers were tasked with concealing narcotics within their luggage or ingesting packages, including those containing liquid forms of illegal substances. Once the shipments arrived in Iceland via Spain, the group managed localized distribution networks. It is estimated that the criminal enterprise generated over 4 million euros in illicit profits, which were subsequently laundered through real estate investments and various assets within Lithuania.

The scale of the law enforcement response was extensive, involving 41 separate searches of suspects' residences. During these raids, officers seized a substantial quantity of narcotics, including more than 39 kilograms of cocaine, 5,100 MDMA tablets, and a combined kilogram of ketamine and methamphetamine. Beyond the drugs, authorities confiscated significant financial assets, such as cash reserves, cryptocurrency wallets, and various electronic devices. The 24 arrests were distributed internationally as follows:

• 11 individuals were apprehended in Iceland
• 6 suspects were detained in Lithuania
• 4 arrests were made in Spain
• 2 individuals were taken into custody in Belgium
• 1 person was arrested in Denmark

Lithuanian authorities played a pivotal role in tracing the financial trail, specifically focusing on how the laundered funds were integrated into the national economy through property acquisitions.

This major disruption in February 2026 reflects a broader shift in how narcotics are entering the European market. An Icelandic liaison officer at Europol had previously identified a specific trend emerging in 2025, noting that cocaine reaching Iceland was increasingly pure and arriving in pre-compressed blocks directly from South American sources. Law enforcement experts attribute this evolution to the successful compromise of encrypted communication platforms like Encrochat. The 2020 breach of Encrochat led to historic seizures in European ports and forced syndicates to adapt. Throughout this specific investigation, Europol provided essential analytical support, which allowed investigators to map the network's hierarchy and identify critical links between the suspects.

The success of this operation, which was formally publicized on February 10, 2026, serves as a testament to the power of unified international action. Eurojust was instrumental in synchronizing the Action Day, ensuring that raids and arrests occurred simultaneously across multiple borders. This outcome underscores the effectiveness of a multi-jurisdictional response to threats against the European Union's internal security. It further confirms that while organized crime remains a borderless and globalized threat, particularly through the pervasive nature of drug trafficking, international law enforcement agencies are increasingly capable of dismantling even the most complex criminal infrastructures.