Significant Drug Bust in the Strait of Gibraltar
In a remarkable collaborative effort, the Spanish Civil Guard has announced the successful seizure of nearly 4.8 tons of hashish during a joint maritime operation with the Moroccan Royal Gendarmerie in the strategically important Strait of Gibraltar. This operation underscores the persistent commitment of both nations to combat drug trafficking and secure their coastal boundaries against the influx of illegal substances.
The coordinated operation was initiated after authorities identified a high-speed semi-rigid boat, which was suspected of transporting a substantial shipment of drugs across the maritime corridor. In response to this intelligence, Spanish maritime, land, and air resources were mobilized to track the vessel as it attempted to evade capture. During the intense pursuit, the suspects resorted to throwing some of the cargo overboard, aiming to lighten the load and enhance their speed in a desperate bid to escape.
Initial recovery operations resulted in the interception of 32 bales of hashish, weighing approximately 1,200 kilograms. As the chase progressed and the vessel neared Moroccan waters, coordination efforts intensified with Moroccan maritime units and the Royal Gendarmerie, who were deployed to apply pressure on the fleeing boat and prevent its escape. This joint pursuit reportedly compelled the traffickers to abandon the remaining cargo at sea, leading Moroccan authorities to recover an additional 89 bales, which weighed an estimated 3,577 kilograms.
In total, the operation culminated in the seizure of 121 bales of hashish, amounting to an overall weight of about 4,777 kilograms. This successful operation is part of ongoing bilateral initiatives aimed at dismantling drug trafficking networks that operate across the Strait of Gibraltar, a crucial route for illicit shipments.
Earlier this year, Moroccan and Spanish law enforcement agencies had also executed a coordinated counter-narcotics operation. This operation was bolstered by intelligence from Morocco’s General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST), which enabled Spanish authorities to intercept a significant hashish trafficking attempt in the Canary Islands, resulting in the seizure of approximately 877 kilograms of hashish.
As reported by moroccoworldnews.com.
