French customs authorities have seized over 2 tonnes of cocaine from a sailboat near the coast of Spain, marking one of the largest drug seizures in recent years. The 14-meter sailboat, flying a Polish flag, was intercepted approximately 400 nautical miles off the Spanish coast by the Spanish customs vessel Petrel I on September 14. The boat was found carrying 70 packages of cocaine, and its four crew members — nationals of Argentina, Uruguay, Colombia, and Albania — were detained. According to French customs, the Albanian crew member is suspected of being instructed by the criminal organization that received the cargo to oversee the operation. The sailboat had been under investigation for several months. It was first spotted in a Catalan port in June, and it drew further suspicion in July when it set sail without activating its automatic identification system (AIS), a mandatory tracking tool for maritime vessels. This lack of tracking made it harder for authorities to monitor the boat's movements. Meanwhile, investigations on land have identified two additional suspects in Spain. One, arrested in Gérone, is believed to have been responsible for locating suitable boats for the traffickers. The second suspect, who remains at large, is accused of monitoring the boats to prevent possible interference from law enforcement. The ongoing investigation is being conducted by Spain’s Audiencia Nacional, a national court with jurisdiction over serious crimes, including organized crime and drug trafficking. Spanish investigators have also requested Polish authorities to verify the ownership of the sailboat, as part of the effort to trace the criminal network behind the operation. This seizure highlights the growing use of pleasure yachts in the "Atlantic cocaine route," a trafficking pathway that transports drugs from South America to Europe. These vessels are often chosen because they can blend in with legitimate maritime traffic, making them harder to detect. The incident underscores the evolving tactics of drug cartels, which are increasingly using recreational boats to avoid traditional smuggling methods. Authorities continue to monitor the situation closely, as this case reveals the sophisticated methods used by criminal groups to transport narcotics across international waters.