Spain Foils Major Drug Smuggling Operation
Recent investigations conducted by Spanish authorities have unveiled a significant drug smuggling operation involving hashish originating from Morocco. The operation, which was set to deliver approximately 400 kilograms of hashish to the Canary Islands, was successfully thwarted by Spanish security forces, leading to the arrest of 11 individuals in Castillo del Romeral on Gran Canaria. According to the Spanish newspaper "El Diario," this operation, dubbed "Papagaia," was part of an ongoing investigation that began in early July when authorities detected credible information indicating that the coastal area south of Gran Canaria was being utilized as a point of entry for drugs intended for distribution within the archipelago or for transport to the Spanish mainland.
The Spanish Civil Guard reported that their investigations revealed one criminal organization was preparing to execute a new landing operation during the second week of August. This prompted a joint operation involving the Civil Guard, the National Police, and the Customs Surveillance Directorate to track down the network and block the shipment coming from the Moroccan coasts. Surveillance efforts led to the detection of the landing operation on the night of August 11 when a speedboat arrived at the shore and began unloading bundles of drugs into a waiting vehicle. Security forces intervened as soon as the operation commenced, apprehending several suspects while others attempted to flee. Ultimately, they seized around 400 kilograms of hashish.
This operation highlights the organized nature of the smuggling attempt, as the network had secured a means of maritime transport, arranged for personnel to receive the shipment, and prepared vehicles for transportation once the drugs reached the coast. Furthermore, this incident is particularly significant as it is linked to investigations into the trafficking routes of hashish arriving from Morocco. Spanish authorities have determined that this coastal area was not merely an isolated transit point but part of a structured pathway for smuggling drugs from Morocco to the Canary Islands, where they are then either distributed locally or transported to other regions in Spain.
The recent developments emphasize the persistent flow of Moroccan hashish into Europe, while Spanish authorities continue to combat the criminal networks, which often involve Moroccan nationals, that handle the reception, transportation, and distribution of these shipments.
As reported by aps.dz.
