Spanish Authorities Seize 4,700 Kilos of Hashish, Arrest 3 in Maritime Drug Bust

The agents were conducting an aerial patrol when they spotted the semi-rigid boat east of the strait, which was carrying a large quantity of packages. They alerted the Algeciras customs service, which managed to intercept the boat just as the crew members were about to transfer the cargo to smaller boats, EFE reports.

To read: Spanish Coast Guard Seizes 353 Kilos of Moroccan Hashish in Mediterranean Drug Bust

After inspecting the semi-rigid boat, the agents discovered that it was carrying 148 bales of hashish weighing around 4,700 kilos. The seized drugs and the three Moroccan occupants were taken to the Algeciras customs service base. This is the largest seizure of hashish ever made by customs surveillance on this type of boat, the Tax Agency said in a statement.

To read: Spanish Police Seize 2.5 Tons of Moroccan Hashish in Almeria Beach Raid

Unlike merchant and fishing vessels or sailboats, which carry more volume of hashish, the size of the cargo on this semi-rigid boat surprised the investigators. The boat was so overloaded that the crew members no longer had space to move from their seats. The 3 Moroccans as well as the seized drugs and other objects were made available to the competent judicial authority.