The operation is a consequence of the surveillance device with air-naval means that Customs Surveillance carries out on the Spanish coasts. A boat with three Dutch crew members has been intercepted and arrested.

The Tax Agency has seized 20,000 kilograms of hashish, in the largest maritime operation against drug trafficking in the last ten years and one of the five most important in history in the fight against drug trafficking.

The operation known as TELENO, carried out by Customs Surveillance officials from Andalusia and Galicia, began several days ago when it became known in Galicia that a fishing boat, with a Dutch flag and about 40 metres in length, could be heading towards the Atlantic coast of Morocco with the intention of loading a significant quantity of hashish.

Following the alert, a control and surveillance device was established with air and naval resources, which allowed a plane from the Customs Department of the Tax Agency to sight the target at 13:50 on 11 November 2010, some 70 miles from the Moroccan coast and sailing on a heading of 270 at a speed of about 11 knots.

The sighting was reported to the patrol boat 'Gerifalte' which proceeded to intercept and board, with the authorization of the Dutch authorities, the vessel called NANCY-II, which responded to the characteristics of the suspected target.

After an initial visual inspection of the suspicious vessel, a significant number of bales of hashish were found, which were spread throughout the ship, with the largest number of bales concentrated in its hold. The smuggling vessel was therefore seized and seized, and its three Dutch crew members were arrested, accused of alleged crimes of smuggling and public health.

The seized vessel has been transferred to the port of Cadiz, where it docked at 09:00 today. Pending the completion of the registry under judicial control, the estimated approximate weight of hashish resin is over 20,000 kilos.

Both the vessel and the drugs seized and the individuals arrested are at the disposal of the Court of Instruction of Cadiz on duty.

The aforementioned TELENO operation remains open, so new arrests cannot be ruled out.