A criminal network has been actively smuggling cocaine from Spain to Iceland, resulting in a significant increase in drug seizures at the Keflavík airport, Iceland's largest airport located near Reykjavík. In June, Iceland reported a record number of drug confiscations at the airport, indicating a troubling trend of rising cocaine trafficking cases. The local law enforcement agent, Jón Halldór Sigurðsson, noted that by that time, authorities had already seized over 40 kilograms of cocaine, with expectations for further increases, potentially reaching at least 60 kilograms by the end of the year 2024, which marks a significant rise in drug-related crime in the country.

Authorities expressed concern regarding the involvement of vulnerable individuals being used as drug mules in this operation, suggesting a systematic exploitation by the criminal network. The data from previous years shows a growing problem, with 35 kilograms intercepted in 2024 and 41 kilograms in 2023, leading to an urgent need for effective measures to combat drug trafficking in the region. The ongoing situation poses serious risks to the small Icelandic population of 397,000 and highlights the emergent challenges faced by law enforcement.