The Tax Agency intervenes in waters near Huelva a fishing boat with 5,400 kilos of hashish
The fight against drug trafficking
- The intervention of the Customs Surveillance Service surprised the ship's crew at the moment in which they were going to transfer the drugs to a 'narco-boat'
- The four crew members of the fishing boat were arrested, one of Portuguese nationality and three Spanish
February 4, 2023 .- The Customs Surveillance Service of the Tax Agency has intervened in waters near Isla Cristina (Huelva) a fishing boat loaded with 5,400 kilos of hashish and has arrested its four crew members, one of Portuguese nationality and three Spanish. The SVA patrol boat's quick action allowed the operation to be aborted just as the fishing boat's crew was about to transfer the narcotic to a drug launch.
This operation against international drug trafficking networks operating off the coast of Huelva began in the early hours of February 1, when the Tax Agency's Customs Surveillance aircraft, patrolling the coast of the provinces of Cádiz and Huelva, observed, about 15 miles from Isla Cristina, a pneumatic vessel equipped with powerful engines, sailing without lights and heading towards the coast.
From that moment on, stealthy tracking of the target begins by combining air and naval units. The 'narco-boat' approaches a fishing boat and the crew begins to move when the patrol boat 'Alcatraz' from Customs Surveillance, based in Huelva, arrives and boards the boat.
Drugs hidden in cargo hold
After a first visual inspection of the fishing boat, named 'Praia de Montegordo' and flying the flag of Portugal, numerous bundles of burlap and raffia, of the type commonly used for transporting hashish, were observed stacked in the cargo hold of the fishing boat.
The four crew members, one of Portuguese nationality and three of Spanish nationality, were immediately arrested and charged with alleged crimes of smuggling and public health.
The intercepted ship is taken to the port of Huelva, where a more in-depth examination is carried out, resulting in 150 bales seized, with a total weight of 5,400 kilos of hashish resin.
The drugs, the four detainees and the seized boat, along with the rest of the proceedings, have been placed at the disposal of the judge of the Court of Instruction number 4 of Ayamonte, acting as duty officer.
The investigation is still ongoing, and further arrests are not ruled out.
The operation is part of the ongoing fight by the Tax Agency's Customs Department against drug smuggling along the entire Andalusian coast.
Customs Supervision: Presentation of charges for smuggling and related offences
Free telephone 900351378.
Email: denunciasvigilanciaaduanera@correo.aeat.es
Operation filming (to download the video, enter the following web address):