Freetown, May 7, 2026 — New details have continued to emerge in what Spanish authorities say could be the country’s largest-ever cocaine seizure, with the vessel at the heart of the case now officially linked to Sierra Leone.
Official maritime records show that the cargo ship Arconian (4,347 dwt), registered in Comoros but listed as owned by a company in Sierra Leone. The registered shipowner is Serenity Shipping SL Ltd, with an address at 20, Off Main Moto Road, Portor Drive, Juba Hill in Freetown departed Freetown on April 22 before being intercepted off Western Sahara on May 1.
The revelation has drawn sharp attention in Sierra Leone, underscoring concerns about West Africa’s growing role as a transit hub in the global cocaine trade.
Officials estimate the vessel was carrying between 30 and 45 tonnes of cocaine, potentially three to four times Spain’s previous record seizure.
Spain’s Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, told reporters in Madrid that the haul would rank among the largest not only nationally but internationally. The Guardia Civil, operating under a sealed court order, has declined to release full details while the investigation continues.
The Arconian, 91 meters in length, had reported Benghazi, Libya, as its destination, but investigators believe this was false information. Authorities suspect the ship was to be met by multiple small boats to offload portions of the cargo, avoiding detection by spreading deliveries across several ports. Libya, they say, would have served as a transhipment stop, with Europe as the ultimate destination.
Escorted to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, the vessel arrived Sunday evening. All 23 crew members reported to be from the Philippines, the Netherlands, and Angola, are now in detention. Early searches revealed not only bales of cocaine but also a cache of weapons onboard.
The revelation that the vessel is tied to a Sierra Leonean company has drawn attention in Freetown, underscoring concerns about West Africa’s growing role as a transit hub in the global cocaine trade. Sierra Leone’s name once again appears in the chain of movement, raising questions about oversight and maritime regulation.
Spain has reported major seizures in recent years, including 13 tonnes of cocaine at the Port of Algeciras in October 2024 and 10 tonnes at sea in January 2025, then described as the largest maritime seizure. The Arconian case, however, is expected to eclipse them all.
As the investigation unfolds under Spain’s Audiencia Nacional, the Sierra Leone connection adds a new dimension to one of Europe’s biggest drug cases, spotlighting the country’s vulnerability in international trafficking routes.
