“A landmark bust totaling over 30 tonnes of cocaine, orchestrated via a transnational ‘super-cartel,’ exposes how drugs move along the Caribbean–Europe–Middle East ‘superhighway.’ Explore the global criminal network and enforcement response.”
In one of the most significant law enforcement operations in recent memory, authorities dismantled a sprawling cocaine distribution network—dubbed a ‘super-cartel’—that controlled roughly one-third of Europe’s cocaine supply. The international sting resulted in the seizure of over 30 tonnes of cocaine, valued at billions, and culminated in arrests across Europe and Dubai.
The investigation, coordinated by Europol under Operation Plexus, targeted a sophisticated trafficking route drawing cocaine from South America through West Africa and the Canary Islands before reaching European ports like Rotterdam and Antwerp.
A staggering 30 tonnes of drugs were confiscated, accompanied by the capture of 49 individuals across multiple nations—including high-value suspects in Dubai. Authorities emphasize that disrupting this criminal pipeline dealt a severe blow to the cartels’ operations and set a new standard for transnational collaboration in drug enforcement.
