**Spanish Authorities Seize Record-Breaking 13 Tonne Cocaine Shipment**

In a historic narcotics bust, Spanish police and customs officials have intercepted over 13 tonnes of cocaine concealed within a banana shipment from Ecuador. This monumental seizure, performed at the southern Spanish port of Algeciras on October 14, marks the largest cocaine haul ever recorded in Spain and the second-largest in European history.

The shipment originated from Guayaquil, Ecuador, and was intercepted due to suspicions surrounding the exporting company, which had previous links to illicit activities. Upon inspection, authorities detected inconsistencies between the declared cargo and the actual contents. A detailed examination revealed the presence of bananas masking a substantial quantity of cocaine, meticulously packed to fit identical boxes hidden behind the initial layer of fruit.

This significant find prompted a judicial order for the search of multiple properties tied to the receiving company. Searches conducted in four Alicante properties and one in Madrid resulted in the capture of extensive documentation and the subsequent arrest of a company partner in Toledo. However, two other directors associated with the operation remain fugitives.

The scale of this seizure far surpasses the previous record in 2021, where authorities uncovered 9.4 tonnes of cocaine, also in Algeciras. The enormity of the October shipment underscored the international scope of the drug distribution network. According to António Jesús Martínez of the Policía Nacional's central narcotics brigade, the volume of cocaine indicated a broader European distribution plan, as the Spanish market alone could not possibly absorb such a large quantity.

Spain has a history of combating sophisticated cocaine smuggling operations. Four years ago, the national police dismantled an international drug ring that smuggled cocaine by embedding it in the cardboard of pineapple and lime boxes. This operation led to 18 arrests across multiple countries, including Spain, Bulgaria, the Netherlands, and Colombia, and confiscated a tonne of cocaine after a year-long investigation.