Spanish authorities said Monday they had seized seven tons of cocaine hidden in shipping containers buried under a farm, arresting three suspected smugglers. Police released video of the seizure, which shows officers digging up the ground and recovering dozens of bags of suspected drugs.
Civil Guard police said they launched an operation on Friday when they spotted two suspicious speedboats at the mouth of the Guadalquivir River.
The boats were tracked to a rural estate in the municipality of Coria del Río, south of the city of Seville, where the suspects kept the drugs in two containers hidden underground.
The Civil Guard, which said it was the biggest seizure of cocaine smuggled in southern Spain on a speedboat, released videos on social networks shows officers digging up suspected drugs.
They said they seized three weapons, including an AK-47 assault rifle, and two stolen vehicles.
Spain is one of the main gateways to Europe for international drug traffickers due to its proximity to Morocco, a major producer of cannabis, and close ties to former colonies in Latin America.
Last month, Spanish authorities arrested a top police officer after €20 million was found in the walls of his home as part of an investigation the largest seizure of cocaine in the country.
Spain in July participated in the destruction of the major transport network of Latin America cocaine to Europe by boat, resulting in the arrest of 50 people in eight countries. Twenty-six detainees were arrested in Spain.