Hashish haul of nearly five tonnes thwarted in Strait of Gibraltar
A joint operation between Spain and Morocco succeeded in preventing a drug boat from introducing 4,777 kilograms of hashish. The smugglers threw the cargo into the sea and escaped.
Hashish haul of nearly five tonnes thwarted in Strait of Gibraltar
A binational operation between the Guardia Civil and Moroccan forces has succeeded in preventing the entry of 4,777 kilograms of hashish across the Strait of Gibraltar. The vessel managed to flee and no arrests were made.
Everything began when a patrol detected a semi-rigid boat whose behaviour appeared suspicious. The officers analysed its movements and immediately activated both maritime and aerial resources to keep it under surveillance.
The occupants of the vessel, upon noticing they were being followed, initiated a series of evasive manoeuvres. Additionally, they began throwing packages into the water to reduce weight and increase speed. With aerial support, the officers were able to track the packages that had been thrown, which totalled around 1,200 kilos distributed across 32 bundles.
Meanwhile, ground units positioned themselves at various points along the coast in case the fugitives attempted to land. The vessel turned towards the Moroccan side, attempting to leave Spanish waters.
At that point, the mechanisms of collaboration with the Moroccan Royal Gendarmerie were activated, which deployed its own maritime patrols. The joint blockade forced the crew members to dispose of the rest of the merchandise: 89 bundles weighing close to 3,577 kilos.
The authorities of the neighbouring country recovered all that drug. Overall, nearly five tonnes of hashish were prevented from reaching their destination. According to information published by ABC, the operation occurred without injuries, in contrast with other recent armed clashes in the area.
Source: ABC