Spanish Customs officers seized 1,420 packages of cocaine at the Port of Valencia during a routine inspection on October 2 of a ferry arriving from Ibiza

An operation by the Spanish Tax Agency against drug trafficking in Valencia has resulted in the seizure of almost 1.5 tonnes of cocaine and the arrest of one person who was arriving on the mainland by ferry from the island of Ibiza.

The operation, codenamed ‘Reventón’, was carried out on October 2 as part of routine inspections conducted by Customs Surveillance officers on ferries travelling between mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands.

The operation was announced by Spain’s Ministry of Finance in a statement on Wednesday.

During the inspection, one of the large vehicles being checked produced “an image compatible with contamination with a different substance from the rest of the vehicle”.

Officers subsequently carried out a physical inspection of the cargo, where they discovered a large number of packages. A total of 1,420 packages containing cocaine were found, with narcotics tests subsequently confirming the presence of the drug.

The ‘Medusa’ X-ray van used to scan ferry vehicles

According to the Spanish Tax Agency, the use of the so-called ‘Medusa’ van is a key element of these operations because it allows officers to screen a large number of vehicles efficiently.

The specialised vehicle projects an X-ray beam through the vehicle, producing an immediate image that allows officers to examine the contents without physically accessing the cargo.

The system can establish whether the vehicle’s contents correspond to what has been declared. It can also reveal hidden compartments or differences in density inside the cargo area that could indicate the presence of drugs or other undeclared goods.

X-ray scan detects two different types of cargo

On this occasion, officers were inspecting a ferry arriving from Ibiza.

As passengers and vehicles began disembarking, several large vehicles were selected for scanning.

During the inspection, officers noticed that one vehicle clearly contained two different types of cargo in the loading area.

When officers carried out a visual inspection, they found that the rear section of the cargo area, behind a screen positioned next to the door, contained a large number of packages of the type commonly used to transport illegal drugs.

A narcotics test was carried out and returned a positive result for cocaine.

The driver of the vehicle was then arrested.

The seized drugs were transferred to Customs Surveillance facilities for safekeeping, while the detainee was placed at the disposal of a Valencia investigating court on duty.

The suspect, who is of Romanian origin, was detained while officers completed the count of the seized packages and prepared the relevant legal proceedings.

Routine checks on ferries between Valencia and the Balearic Islands

According to the Ministry of Finance, the Port of Valencia has three terminals connecting with the Balearic Islands.

Customs Surveillance officers regularly carry out inspections of ferry departures and arrivals linking mainland Spain with the islands.

These operations are a regular feature at the Port of Valencia and involve specialised personnel equipped to conduct vehicle X-ray scans using the ‘Medusa’ van.

Customs operations at the port can also involve specialists in financial investigations and asset tracing, as well as experts responsible for preventing the illegal trafficking of endangered species of flora and fauna under the CITES Convention.