Much of the cocaine arriving in Spain comes from Colombia

The swoop, codenamed Operation Oyster, intercepted the cargo ship 200 nautical miles south-west of the Canary Islands, en route from Venezuela to Italy.

The cocaine was intended for distribution from the Canaries to the rest of Europe, police said.

The seizure results directly from Operation Orinoco, which is trying to co-ordinate anti-drugs efforts by police in Venezuela, Colombia, United States, Italy, Panama, France, Greece and Spain.

Spain has become a pivot for drug traffickers in Europe, with cocaine, heroin and hashish passing through its territory from various points of origin.

Spain's criminal gangs have well-established links with illegal drug operations in South America and access to thousands of kilometres of coastline which are difficult to police.

Seizure

The Privilege has been taken to the port of Las Palmas on the island of Gran Canaria, where it is being systematically searched.

The arrested crew was made up of 18 Philippine nationals, one Mexican and the boat's Panamanian captain.

Spain's biggest ever cocaine seizure was in July 1999, when police found 7.6 tonnes of cocaine on a ship approaching the Canary Islands from Panama. Officials estimated the haul at 10 tonnes.

A further 5.2 tonnes of cocaine were later found on mainland Spain as a result of that operation.