Officers from the National Police, in a joint operation with the Guardia Civil 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.
The police efforts 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 organisation 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 Centre and Organised 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 organisation took advantage of the “bad seas” to carry out drug transports.
Despite the difficult weather conditions, a device was organised in which two Guardia Civil vessels participated: the Río Arlanza high-altitude patrol boat and the Río Miño ocean vessel. The operation lasts two days and in addition to the Guardia Civil, two agents from the Tax Agency embarked.
Finally, the tugboat is detected and a stealthy boarding is made with two auxiliary boats of the Río Miño. 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 organisations based in the strait and prevent the advance of organised crime in the Campo de Gibraltar.
