More than seven tons of hashish seized in a new blow to international drug trafficking in Campo de Gibraltar
Three people have been arrested during an operation that has been one of the biggest apprehensions of this year, reducing the activity of criminal organizations based in the Strait
The boat was used by a high-level criminal organization that intended to introduce large amounts of drugs across the Spanish coasts.
Agents of the Spanish National Police, in a joint operation with the Civil Guard and the Tax Agency, have seized more than seven tons of hashish and detained three people during an intervention carried out at sea, proceeding to board a boat carrying It was being investigated for more than a year and that was the objective of the MAOC (Maritime Analysis and Operations center), a European body to combat drug trafficking in the maritime field and of the Maritime Intelligence Offices of Customs of Galicia and the Canary Islands.
The police efforts on the merchant began in March 2020, when it was already being investigated, in turn, by other nations such as the Netherlands or France. The boat, according to investigators, had been used to carry drug caches in several countries. It is known that the boat was going to be used by a high-level criminal organization that intended to introduce a large amount of hashish through the Spanish coasts. The organization had set up its logistics point in Huelva, a town where legal proceedings were opened.
The progress of the investigations led to the identification of the crew members, without ceasing control over the merchant ship until, with all the necessary information gathered, the boarding in international waters was agreed with the support of the Counter-Terrorism Intelligence Center. and Organized Crime (CITCO).
The vessel named FELSTED, was a tug that had been renovated to have a large hold, and thus be able to transport a large quantity of drugs. In addition, this type of vessel withstands the worst weather conditions very well, so the organization takes advantage of the “bad seas” to carry out drug transports.
Despite the difficult weather conditions, a device is organized in which two Civil Guard vessels participate: the Río Arlanza high-altitude patrol boat and the Río Miño ocean vessel. The operation lasts two days and in addition to the civil guards, two agents from the Tax Agency embark.
Finally, the tugboat is detected and a stealthy boarding is made with two auxiliary boats of the Miño River. The crew members do not detect the police action until the agents are on board the tugboat. The tugboat is escorted to the Port of Algeciras where 200 bundles are unloaded, which once weighed reach a weight of 7,130 kilograms.
This is one of the biggest apprehensions of this year, with more than seven tons of hashish seized, which manages to reduce the activity of criminal organizations based in the strait and prevent the advance of organized crime in the Campo de Gibraltar.
