Spanish police have discovered a highly concealed drug smuggling tunnel in the North African exclave of Ceuta, running directly to the Moroccan border. Authorities seized 17 tons of cannabis and €1.4 million (6.5388 million ringgit) in cash, and arrested 27 suspects involved. Police did not disclose the street value of the seized drugs.
According to various foreign media reports, the tunnel is located beneath a warehouse in the Tarajal industrial zone in Ceuta, just dozens of meters from the Moroccan border fence. The tunnel entrance was hidden behind a large refrigerator, reached a depth of 19 meters, and had three levels, with a structure that included an entrance shaft, a drug storage area, and the main transportation tunnel itself. It is believed that up to 2 metric tons of cannabis resin could be transported to Ceuta each week, before being shipped to other European countries—mainly the Netherlands.
The tunnel is approximately 80 centimeters wide and about 120 centimeters high, fitted with a rail system and an underground crane, allowing transport without direct contact between personnel at both ends. There is also a pump system to deal with underground water issues. The warehouse was soundproofed to prevent noise from leaking out. Police described the overall structure as resembling a “mine shaft maze.”
Among those arrested was a Moroccan ringleader believed to have designed and overseen the entire project as the "drug architect." He was apprehended during an operation on March 26, and his cannabis smuggling network has now been dismantled.