How Police discovered a secret drug tunnel from Morocco to Spain

Spanish police have discovered a complex underground tunnel used to smuggle large amounts of drugs from Morocco to Spain.

The tunnel was found in Ceuta, a Spanish territory in North Africa. It was hidden under an industrial warehouse and had systems to pump out water and block noise so it would not be detected.

Police said the tunnel had three levels and looked like a maze, similar to a mining tunnel.

It had rail tracks with trolleys used to move the drugs. On the middle level, the drugs were stored and then lifted using cranes and pulleys designed to carry heavy loads.

The tunnel goes down about 19 metres (62 feet). However, officials do not know how long it is because part of it is flooded.

The passage is narrow, about 1.2 metres high and 80 centimetres wide, but it was well-built and carefully designed. Police believe it was created by a powerful criminal group that worked with others to transport drugs by speedboats and fishing vessels.

The investigation started in February 2025. Since then, police have seized more than 17 tonnes of hashish and about 1.4 million euros in cash in operations in Ceuta and mainland Spain.

A total of 27 people have been arrested, including two suspected leaders of the group. One of the leaders was arrested on March 26 in Morocco and is also linked to another tunnel discovered last year.

Spain is a major entry point for drugs into Europe because it is close to Morocco, one of the world’s biggest producers of cannabis, and has strong connections with Latin America.

Ceuta and Melilla are the only land borders between Europe and Africa.