Spain Seizes Sailing Boats Smuggling 30 Tonnes Of Hash
Faizan Hashmi Published September 30, 2020 | 09:00 PM
Spanish police said Wednesday they had seized more than 30 tonnes of hashish stashed onboard four sailing boats in its biggest-ever bust of such drugs at sea
Madrid, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 30th Sep, 2020 ) :Spanish police said Wednesday they had seized more than 30 tonnes of hashish stashed onboard four sailing boats in its biggest-ever bust of such drugs at sea.
The four boats were intercepted in the Atlantic in the framework of a four-day operation which ended on Monday with the arrest of nine people of Bulgarian and Russian origin, a police statement said.
Two of them, both "luxury vessels", were stopped off the coast of Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, while a third was seized near the Strait of Gibraltar and the fourth off the coast of Mauritania, south of Morocco.
Sailing under British, German and Dutch flags, the vessels belonged to what police said was "the biggest criminal organisation dedicated to trafficking hashish by sea".
Since the beginning of the year, Spanish police have seized nearly 35 tonnes of hashish belonging to this organisation, which is run by Bulgarian nationals, along with six of their sailing boats, valued at some 5.
0 million euros.
Spanish security forces staged the operation after coordination with police in Britain, the Netherlands, Greece and Italy, and the help of Europol, the European policing agency.
Spain is one of the main gateways for drugs coming into Europe and criminal gangs from eastern Europe are well established within the country.
Earlier this month, Spanish police seized a Croatia-flagged sailing boat off the Canary Islands carrying nearly a tonne of cocaine destined for eastern Europe with a street value of more than 40 million Euros, prompting officials in Spain and Croatia to speak of a "new African route" for drugs.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Pakistan marks World Press Freedom Day
High-level Saudi business delegation due on May 5
Stocks heat up as US labour market cools
President approves Tax Laws (Amendment) Bill 2024
Implementation of merit, justice to oppressed segments top priorities: CPO
Overseas Kashmir community delegation calls on AJK President, discusses latest s ..
Govt believes in freedom of press: Amir Muqam
Labour urges UK election after Tory losses
Health authorities asked for action against alleged illegal tenders at Services ..
Spain scraps national bullfighting prize sparking debate
Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan visits Rawalpindi ..
ATC extends interim bail of PTI founder in 3 cases
More Stories From World
-
Dams strain as water, death toll, rise in south Brazil
30 minutes ago -
Rafah assault 'could lead to a bloodbath': WHO chief
30 minutes ago -
USA include former Kiwi all-rounder in T20 World Cup squad
50 minutes ago -
Spanish beauty group Puig makes market debut
50 minutes ago -
Israel trade freeze aimed at forcing Gaza truce: Erdogan
1 hour ago -
Debutant Tanzid powers Bangladesh win over Zimbabwe
1 hour ago
-
Panama to vote in presidential election with 8 contenders
2 hours ago -
Trump trial ends second week of combustible testimony
2 hours ago -
US campus protests wane after crackdowns
2 hours ago -
Nepal court orders limit on Everest climbing permits
2 hours ago -
Germany, Czech Republic accuse Russia of cyberattacks
2 hours ago -
Lunar mission good example of Pak-China cooperation in space exploration, research: Ambassador Hashm ..
3 hours ago