Abordaje mercante 'Natalia' con 20.000kg de droga, Canarias- Aduanas SVA

August 10, 2021 - A joint investigation by the Spanish Tax Agency's Customs Surveillance Service and French Customs has led to the interception of a merchant vessel carrying nearly 20 tons of hashish in waters near the Canary Islands. Following the boarding by two patrol boats from the Spanish Tax Agency's Customs Surveillance Service, the vessel's 11 crew members, all Syrian nationals, were arrested. Upon boarding, officers discovered that the merchant ship was at serious risk of sinking due to significant leaks and engine problems. The vessel, flying the Palau flag, was the subject of a joint investigation by the Spanish Tax Agency's Customs Surveillance Service and the Spanish National Police as part of Operation Natalia, as well as by the French customs service, DNRED. After detecting the merchant ship's proximity to the waters of the Canary Islands, its urgent interception was ordered. Two patrol boats from the Customs Surveillance Service, the 'Sacre' and the 'Halcón', set sail on the night of Saturday, July 7th, in search of the vessel. It was boarded in the early hours of Sunday, approximately 40 miles southeast of Fuerteventura, in international waters. Risk of sinking: Once the vessel was secured by the Customs Surveillance officers, its poor condition, with multiple leaks and a risk of fire in the engine room, required arduous work from the officers of both patrol boats to keep it afloat and finally bring it to the port of Las Palmas on Sunday night. Throughout the day yesterday, Customs Surveillance officers and National Police agents conducted a joint search of the merchant ship. As suspected by investigators from both agencies, in addition to its routine transport of plaster, the merchant ship was carrying a large cargo of hashish, hidden in its holds. The operation uncovered a total of 638 bales weighing 19,876 kilos of hashish, representing another significant haul intercepted this year in waters near the Canary Islands. The 11 crew members arrested will be brought before the National Court in the coming hours. Meanwhile, both the Port Authority and the Maritime Authority of the Port of Las Palmas have taken charge of the damaged vessel, assisted by Customs Surveillance officers, to minimize leaks. CUSTOMS COMPLAINTS - CUSTOMS SURVEILLANCE If you are aware of any fact or circumstance related to a crime or infraction that falls under the jurisdiction of the Customs Surveillance Service, you can report it using any of the methods provided below: Toll-free telephone: 900351378. Email: [email protected]