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Twelve tonnes of hashish seized in a fishing vessel intercepted in the Atlantic ocean

In a combined operation between the Tax Agency and the National Police.

    • The boarding of the fishing vessel was carried out by the patrol boat 'Gerifalte' in very adverse weather conditions, with waves of up to 5 meters and strong winds.
    • The 13 crew members of the boat, all of Moroccan nationality, arrested

January 25, 2018 .- Officials from the Tax Agency, in a joint operation with agents from the National Police, intercepted yesterday in Atlantic waters a mother fishing vessel that was transporting around 12 tons of hashish. The vessel was boarded by the Customs Surveillance patrol boat “Gerifalte” of the Tax Agency about 130 nautical miles southwest of Cádiz, in very adverse weather conditions, with waves of up to 5 meters and strong winds. Its 13 crew members, all of Moroccan nationality, have been arrested.

The operation, called 'Canelas', was initiated based on information indicating that an organization could be preparing a hashish trafficking operation using a fishing boat, in an area located off the coast of Kenitra, Morocco, and approximately 70 miles from coast.

Customs Surveillance aircraft from the Tax Agency detected a fishing boat of about 8 or 9 meters that was stationary and not carrying out any type of activity related to fishing, so the patrol boat 'Gerifalte', from the Tax Agency, based in Cádiz, he headed to the area. The patrol vessel had to move 140 miles from its home port, the limit of its maximum operational capacity.

Boarding in adverse weather conditions

Once located and having requested authorization from Morocco, the flag country, the patrol boat proceeded to approach and board the fishing vessel. The interception of the ship was carried out in very adverse weather conditions, with waves of up to 5 meters and strong northwesterly winds that made the operation extremely difficult.

Once boarded, bales commonly used for the transportation of hashish were detected which, in the absence of an official count, could contain close to 12,000 kilos.

The 13 crew members were immediately arrested, as well as the ship and merchandise were seized, which were transferred to the port of Cádiz.

The detainees, the ship and the drugs have been handed over to the competent court.