Spain's Civil Guard have released pictures of the submarine used to smuggle cocaine into the country, and confirmed two Ecuadorian men were arrested during the operation. 

Spanish police have seized a so-called 'narco-sub', a submarine used by drug smugglers to move large quantities of illegal drugs without being detected, which is thought to be the first time such an operation has been caught in Europe. The 'narco-subs' have more commonly been used in Latin America. 

The submarine was captured off the coast of Galicia, in the north of Spain, near the Portuguese border. It was said to be carrying 3,000kgs of cocaine, according to a police source cited by Spanish newspaper El Pais. 

The 22-meter long vessel is reported to have made the journey across the Atlantic from Colombia. Two Ecuadorian men were arrested, but it is thought a third suspect escaped the police action. 

Galicia has a long history of smuggling operations, and Spanish police said the drug smugglers in the area have strong links to Colombia, where much of the world's supply of cocaine is produced.