Tax Agency seizes 3,600 kilos of hashish from fishing vessel in Sanlúcar de Barrameda (Cadiz)

This operation began when a Customs Surveillance aircraft of the Tax Agency detected a 14-metre fishing vessel on Sunday night that did not follow the normal pattern of behaviour for fishing activities, and seemed to have loaded on the boat an indeterminate number of packages that are commonly used to transport hashish.

Ministerio de Hacienda (AEAT)Consequently, the corresponding operation was set in motion in which various Customs naval and air resources were deployed, commencing a surveillance operation that led to the boarding of the fishing vessel off the coast of Sanlúcar de Barrameda (Cadiz).

It was observed that it carried a large number of bundles in the part of the vessel where the nets were stored, which were used in an attempt to conceal them.

Accordingly, the members of the crew were arrested and transferred to the port of disembarkation to carry out a detailed search.

120 packages of drugs were counted, with an approximate weight of 3,600 kilos of very pure hashish, following a field analysis performed with a chemical test.

The two detainees, together with the drugs and the vessel seized, were handed over to the investigating court on duty in Sanlúcar de Barrameda (Cadiz).

Second seizure in 24 hours

Furthermore, on the early morning of 20 August, in an air and sea surveillance operation set in motion by Customs, a semi-rigid vessel was detected travelling without lights, which was heading towards the beaches of San Pedro de Alcántara in Malaga.

A surveillance operation was activated that led to the load being dumped on the beach. 11 bundles of hashish were seized, with an approximate weight of 400 kilos, together with a seven-metre long semi-rigid vessel and a stolen 4x4 vehicle that was to be used to transport the haul. Although those responsible fled under the cover of the darkness, proceedings have been set in motion to discover their identity.

These two operations come as a result of the surveillance operation set up by the Tax Agency to control illegal trafficking.

Non official translation