Operation of the Tax Agency and National Police

• The boarding was carried out by the patrol boat 'Petrel' of the Customs Surveillance Service of the Tax Agency in waters near the islands

• Four crew members of the Spanish-flagged ship arrested

• The drug bales were found piled up inside the sailboat.

December 15, 2023.- The Customs Surveillance Service of the Tax Agency, within the framework of a joint action with the National Police to reinforce the surveillance of waters near the Canary Islands in the prevention of drug trafficking by sea, intercepted and boarded on December 13 a sailboat named 'Catalonia', Spanish flag and 15 meters long, which was carrying nearly 3,600 kilos of hashish distributed in 100 bales, according to initial estimates.

The boarding by the Customs Surveillance Special Operations Ship 'Petrel' was carried out in the usual context of the prevailing weather conditions in the Canary Islands at this time of year. During the operation, the four crew members were arrested: a Bulgarian citizen, an Italian and two Moroccans.

The packages, weighing 36 kilos and of the usual type used to transport narcotic substances, were piled up inside the sailboat and visible to the naked eye, something that could indicate that they were intended to be immediately stashed on the Canary Islands coast.

The way the sailboat was sailing and its course caught the attention of the officials, which led them to decide to carry out a routine inspection that ended with the detection of the narcotic.

Yesterday, the ship 'Petrel' arrived at the port of La Luz and Las Palmas to, in collaboration with the National Police Corps through UDYCO Las Palmas, proceed to unload the drugs and bring the detainees to court.

The operation was directed and coordinated by the Anti-Drug Prosecutor's Office of the National Court. The detainees, the boat and the narcotic substance will be placed at the disposal of Central Court of Instruction number 4, which is hearing the case.