Stormy Seas Snare Drug Smugglers in Gibraltar Strait
A 49-year-old man and a 53-year-old woman were caught red-handed after their sailing boat ran into trouble during a fierce storm in the Strait of Gibraltar on 10 December.
Spanish Police Nab 130 Bales of Cannabis Resin
The National Crime Agency (NCA), working alongside the Maritime Analysis and Operations Centre for Narcotics (MAOC-N) in Lisbon, tipped off Spanish authorities about the suspicious vessel. It was believed to be ferrying drugs from Morocco.
Spanish customs intercepted the boat and escorted it into Cadiz port. A raid uncovered 130 bales of cannabis resin hidden onboard.
Caught in the Act: Smugglers Held as Probe Deepens
The suspects remain in custody in Spain as investigations continue. The seizure details were only recently revealed by Spanish police.
NCA Vows to Ramp Up Fight Against Drug Crime
“This was an international operation which led to a substantial seizure of narcotics,” said Steve Reynolds, NCA International Regional Manager. “We suspected the vessel was being used to ship drugs across the Atlantic, so the NCA worked closely with MAOC-N and our Spanish colleagues to intercept it. Together, we are determined to disrupt the organised crime networks behind the international drugs trade.”
