Drug smugglers set fire to yacht while trying to destroy cocaine
- Authorities intercepted a yacht 50 miles off the Canary Islands and found it ablaze.
- The crew set the fire to destroy their cocaine cargo, resulting in one injury.
- Law enforcement recovered 25 kilos of cocaine and arrested two crew members.
In July 2025, authorities intercepted a yacht approximately 50 miles off the coast of the Canary Islands. The vessel was linked to drug smugglers who, upon detection, attempted to destroy their cargo by setting fire to the yacht. This drastic action resulted in one of the crew members sustaining serious injuries, necessitating their evacuation by maritime rescue services. Despite the intense fire, authorities managed to recover a substantial haul of 25 kilos of cocaine from the boat. Two of the crew members, identified as French and Dutch nationals, were subsequently arrested by the Guardia Civil. In a separate incident, a drug smuggler was caught on audio leaving a voicemail shortly before attempting to flee from police in a boat laden with cocaine. The voicemail, which was shared by the Home Office, revealed the smugglers’ confidence, as one of the individuals dismissed the risk involved in their operation. The group, consisting of three men, tried to evade border control officers by fleeing in their cocaine-filled boat for 28 miles. Law enforcement eventually caught up to them, leading to a dramatic chase that included Border Force officers pursuing them across a beach. These events highlight the ongoing challenges posed by drug trafficking in European waters. With law enforcement agencies like the Guardia Civil and the Border Force working diligently to combat these illegal activities, the stakes for drug smugglers continue to escalate. Smugglers are adopting increasingly desperate methods to elude authorities, such as setting their vessels ablaze to eliminate evidence of their illicit cargo. The recoveries of large quantities of cocaine in both instances underscore the scale of drug smuggling operations in the region. Moreover, these incidents also shed light on the broader implications of drug smuggling on public safety and security. The reckless behavior exhibited by smugglers, including jeopardizing their lives and the lives of others, poses severe risks not only to themselves but also to maritime safety officials and nearby vessels. As policing efforts intensify, drug smugglers may resort to increasingly dangerous tactics, making it imperative for law enforcement to stay vigilant and prepared for evolving strategies employed by these criminal networks.