3.75 tonnes of hashish seized in two consecutive operations against drug trafficking in the Strait of Gibraltar
Fight against drug trafficking
- Customs Surveillance officials have seized 114 bales of hashish and intervened in a large 'narco-boat', with the arrest of its four crew members
December 29, 2020 .- Customs Surveillance officials of the Tax Agency have managed to prevent the introduction into Spain of a total of 3,750 kilos of hashish in two consecutive operations carried out in the Strait area on December 19 and 21. As a result of the operation, along with the 114 bales of hashish seized, a large drug boat was seized and its four crew members arrested.
The first operation took place on Saturday night, when Customs detection equipment detected a semi-rigid boat presumably loaded with drugs.
A Customs Surveillance patrol boat based in Algeciras headed towards the previously sighted target, who, upon being surprised, fled, throwing the drug load they were carrying into the sea to lighten the boat and be able to escape. 31 bales of hashish were recovered, which, once secured at the base port, gave a gross weight of approximately 983 kilograms.
The second operation took place two days later, on December 21, after a semi-rigid boat measuring about 12 metres in length and equipped with three powerful outboard motors was sighted. Given the possibility that it was loaded with hashish, a Customs Surveillance patrol car was sent to intercept it.
On this occasion, despite the fact that the crew of the smuggling vessel also threw away almost all of the bales they were carrying, the semi-rigid vessel was intercepted, boarded and seized. Its four crew members, three Spanish men and one Moroccan, were arrested and a total of 83 bales of hashish were seized, with an approximate gross weight of 2,765 kilograms.
The proceedings, the detainees and the seized vessel have been made available to the relevant judicial authorities.
Spanish Customs continues to maintain pressure on illicit flows in the Strait of Gibraltar area and has established a plan for monitoring maritime spaces based on the use of intelligence and collaboration with national and international agencies also responsible for drug control.
Customs Supervision: Presentation of charges for smuggling and related offences Free telephone 900351378. Email: denunciasvigilanciaaduanera@correo.aeat.es |
Filming and photos of the operation (to download the video and photos, enter the following web address):
https://we.tl/t-73g1j6jJRx