Organised crime syndicates have adopted a disturbing new tactic, using large livestock vessels packed with thousands of cattle as cover to smuggle massive quantities of cocaine from South America to Europe. Intelligence shared with The Telegraph reveals that cartels are exploiting the appalling sanitary conditions on these ships to deter thorough inspections by border patrols.
A Foul and Calculated Strategy
Security officials report that the ships, often carrying cattle that have been living for months in their own faeces and urine, create such a repulsive environment that officials are discouraged from boarding. Many animals die during the transatlantic journey, a situation police sources describe as a "logistical nightmare" when authorities attempt to seize a vessel or inspect its cargo.
Sources at the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre, Narcotics (MAOC-N), an EU law enforcement agency based in Lisbon, detailed the operation. Ports controlled by criminal networks in Brazil's Santos and Belem, as well as Colombia's Cartagena, routinely load up to 10,000 cows onto ageing 200-metre vessels. These ships sail through the Caribbean or along the South American coast to collect cocaine from smaller boats.
Officials estimate each journey involves four to ten tonnes of cocaine, with a staggering estimated street value of around £450 million. The drugs are hidden in grain silos and other compartments by crew members before the ships head to ports with less strict livestock inspection regimes, such as Beirut in Lebanon and Damietta in Egypt.
The Atlantic Handoff and Global Spread
The most profitable cargo, however, is destined for Europe's major entry points: Antwerp and Rotterdam. As the ships cross the Atlantic, crews attach cocaine packages to GPS-equipped inflatables and throw them overboard. High-speed boats then retrieve the bundles and transport them to Belgium or the Netherlands. MAOC-N reports that at least one suspicious livestock ship departs South America for Europe every week.
The foul conditions severely hinder enforcement. Sniffer dogs cannot operate effectively because the overwhelming stench and presence of animals interfere with detection. This method has proven highly effective; over the past 18 years, European authorities have intercepted only one such livestock vessel carrying cocaine.
Historic Seizure and Tactic Goes Global
The first major seizure occurred on 24 January 2023, when Spanish police intercepted a 100-metre cattle ship travelling from Colombia to Lebanon. Officers discovered 4,500 kilograms of cocaine, worth roughly £82 million, hidden inside cattle feed silos. Body-worn camera footage showed officers wading through layers of waste from the 1,750 cows on board. The ship was towed to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, where its 28 crew members were arrested.
Authorities warn this tactic is now emerging globally. Last week, Australian police reported a livestock ship carrying sheep was used to drop £84 million worth of cocaine into the ocean off Western Australia. Fishermen found the drugs tied to a floating drum on 6 November. The carrier Al Kuwait allegedly offloaded the packages en route to Fremantle Harbour. The ship's chief officer has been charged, and three men were arrested for allegedly attempting to collect the drugs.
