Record Amount of Cocaine Seized in Atlantic International Waters

May 4, 2026, 18:08
AfricaInternational

Introduction

Spanish authorities have captured a large amount of cocaine from a cargo ship stopped near the Canary Islands.

Main Body

The operation was carried out by the Civil Guard on Friday in international waters. According to the AUGC union, the ship had left Freetown, Sierra Leone, and was heading for Benghazi, Libya. It was carrying between 30,000 and 45,000 kilograms of cocaine, and about 20 people were arrested during the operation. Although the ship was officially going to Libya, the AUGC emphasized that the drugs were likely meant for European markets. They asserted that unloading such a huge amount in one Libyan port would be too difficult and would attract too much attention. This event happens because Spain is a major transit point for drugs due to its location near Morocco and its connections with Latin American countries. Furthermore, there have been other recent successes, such as the seizure of 10 tons of cocaine at sea in January and 13 tons at the port of Algeciras in 2024. In 2025, authorities also broke up a trafficking network that used high-speed boats. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska described this latest seizure as one of the most important in the world, although the Civil Guard has not shared more details because of a court secrecy order.

Conclusion

The ship is now being inspected in the Canary Islands while legal actions continue.

Learning

🚀 The 'Power-Up' Transition: From Simple to Sophisticated

At an A2 level, you describe events using simple words: "The police said..." or "They said..." To reach B2, you need Reporting Verbs. These words change the 'flavor' of the sentence and tell us how someone is speaking.

🔍 Spotting the Shift

Look at these two phrases from the text:

  1. "the AUGC emphasized that..."
  2. "They asserted that..."

If we used "said," the text would be boring. Instead, the author uses specific verbs to show strength and confidence:

  • Emphasize →\rightarrow To make something very clear because it is important. (A2 alternative: say clearly)
  • Assert →\rightarrow To state something strongly as a fact, even if others might disagree. (A2 alternative: say strongly)

🛠️ How to apply this to your speaking

Stop using "say" for everything. Use this scale to climb toward B2:

If you want to be...Use this B2 VerbExample from the logic of the article
Clear/StrongAssert"I assert that this is the best solution."
Urgent/ImportantEmphasize"I want to emphasize that we are late."
Official/FormalDescribe"The Minister described the event as a success."

💡 Pro Tip: The "That" Bridge

Notice that after these verbs, we often use the word that to connect the speaker to the information: extSubjectightarrowextB2VerbightarrowextthatightarrowextTheFact ext{Subject} ightarrow ext{B2 Verb} ightarrow ext{that} ightarrow ext{The Fact} Example: "The Guard asserted that the drugs were for Europe."

By swapping say for assert or emphasize, you immediately sound more professional and precise.

Vocabulary Learning

operation
A planned activity or series of actions carried out for a particular purpose
Example:The police launched a large operation to dismantle the drug ring.
carried out
To complete or perform an action or task
Example:The team carried out the plan with precision.
international waters
Water areas beyond the territorial limits of any country, governed by international law
Example:The ship was seized in international waters, outside any nation's jurisdiction.
union
An organization of workers or other people that work together for common goals
Example:The union negotiated better wages for the workers.
arrested
To detain someone by legal authority, usually for a crime
Example:Twenty people were arrested during the raid.
emphasized
To give special importance or attention to something
Example:The spokesperson emphasized the seriousness of the crime.
unloading
The act of removing goods from a vehicle or vessel
Example:The unloading of the cargo took several hours.
difficult
Hard to do or achieve; requiring effort or skill
Example:It was difficult to navigate the narrow channel.
transit
The passage of goods or people through a place before reaching their final destination
Example:Spain is a major transit point for smuggled goods.
connections
Links or relationships between people or places
Example:The investigation uncovered connections between several countries.
trafficking
The illegal trade or movement of goods, often drugs or people
Example:The authorities cracked down on drug trafficking.
high-speed
Moving or operating very fast
Example:High-speed boats were used to evade detection.
secrecy
The state of being kept hidden or confidential
Example:The details were kept in secrecy by the court.
inspected
To examine something carefully to check its condition or quality
Example:The ship is now being inspected by customs officials.