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

• The fishing boat was boarded by the patrol boat 'Gerifalte' in very adverse weather conditions, with waves of up to 5 metres and strong winds.
• The 13 crew members of the boat, all of Moroccan nationality, were 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 ship 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 Cadiz, 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 organisation could be preparing a hashish trafficking operation using a fishing vessel, in an area located off the coast of Kenitra, Morocco, and some 70 miles from the coast.

The Tax Agency's air and naval Customs Surveillance equipment detected a fishing boat measuring around 8 or 9 metres that was stopped and not carrying out any type of fishing activity, so the Tax Agency's patrol boat 'Gerifalte', based in Cadiz, 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 vessel took place in very adverse weather conditions, with waves of up to 5 metres and strong north-westerly winds that made the operation extremely difficult.

Once on board, bales of the type commonly used to transport hashish were detected, which, pending an official count, could contain close to 12,000 kilos.

The 13 crew members were immediately arrested and the ship and its merchandise were seized, and taken to the port of Cadiz.

The detainees, the ship and the drugs have been placed at the disposal of the competent court.