Spanish authorities have intercepted 2.6 tonnes of cocaine concealed in a shipment of coconuts that originated from Ghana's Tema Port, in what has become the latest major drug seizure linked to the country's ports.
The seizure was announced on November 11, 2026, in a joint statement by Spain's Tax Agency (Agencia Tributaria) and the Civil Guard.
According to investigators, two containers loaded with coconuts were loaded at the Tema Port on August 2, 2026, and arrived at the Port of Valencia 20 days later, on August 22, aboard a container vessel.
The containers were flagged for inspection by the Entry Summary Unit of the Customs Surveillance Service after being assessed as high-risk during routine international trade controls.
Upon physical inspection, officers discovered an ingenious concealment method: the wooden boxes carrying the coconuts had been fitted with false bottoms. Beneath the false structures, officers found multiple packages containing a white powder which later tested positive for cocaine.
Instead of an immediate seizure, Spanish authorities opted for a controlled delivery operation. Investigators removed the cocaine but left the containers sealed and placed them under surveillance to identify the recipients.
Their strategy paid off. Two refrigerated lorries arrived to collect the consignment. Customs and Guardia Civil officers trailed the vehicles by road from Valencia to an industrial warehouse at the La Juaida estate in Viator, in the province of AlmerÃa.
The arrests were made as the cargo was being unloaded. The two men detained have been identified as the suspected importer of the drugs and the person responsible for supervising the unloading operation.
The operation involved the Valencia and AlmerÃa Operational Units of Customs Surveillance, alongside the Civil Guard's Organised Crime Unit and its Fiscal and Border Analysis and Investigation Unit in Valencia.
This incident follows a worrying pattern. In September 2026, French customs at the Port of Dunkirk seized nearly 3.9 tonnes of cocaine hidden in a container of plastic waste that had arrived from Ghana.
As of the time of this report, Ghana's Narcotics Control Commission and the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority have not yet issued a statement on the latest interception, and no arrests in Ghana have been announced.
Tags: Ghana, Tema Port, Spain, Cocaine, Valencia, AlmerÃa, Guardia Civil, Drug Trafficking
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