A joint Spanish operation involving the Guardia Civil, National Police and Customs, successfully identified and intercepted a sailing vessel, approximately 600 nautical miles west of the Canary Islands, loaded with 1,200kg of cocaine destined for Europe.
The vessel was sailing without any known flag and, following exchanges with the UK and German authorities, who were unable to confirm the vessel’s flag, the vessel was considered as stateless and subsequently boarded by the Spanish authorities.
One Spaniard and one Italian were arrested as alleged members of a criminal organisation involved in international cocaine trafficking between South America and Spain using recreational vessels.
This successful operation was made possible by close international cooperation between the Spanish authorities, the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency and the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre (Narcotics).
Press (with video): https://www.europapress.es/islas-canarias/noticia-intervienen-1200-kilos-cocaina-velero-600-millas-canarias-detienen-dos-tripulantes-20210926102147.html
