Civil Guard Seizes 1,184 Kilos of Cocaine Hidden on Fishing Vessel in Santa Pola Port

The Civil Guard has seized 1,184 kilos of cocaine hidden on a fishing vessel that had arrived at the Alicante port of Santa Pola. The operation resulted in the arrest of ten individuals and another person under investigation for their alleged involvement in drug trafficking. Four of the arrested have been remanded in custody by court order.

The drugs were distributed in 40 burlap bales, hidden in ten large containers that had been partially covered with fishing nets to hinder detection. The investigation uncovered an organization that allegedly collected the cocaine at sea and transported it to the shore, with support from others on land.

The investigation began earlier this year after agents received information about the possible use of fishing boats to introduce drugs along the Alicante coast. Since then, the Civil Guard conducted surveillance to detect suspicious movements of vessels and possible unloading operations.

On September 18, agents detected a vessel off the Alicante coast sailing towards Santa Pola. After establishing a surveillance operation, they also observed a man who allegedly monitored movements near the docks to alert of a possible police presence.

When the fishing vessel docked, members of the Provincial Maritime Service and the Citizen Security Unit of the Alicante Command (USECIC) inspected the boat and located the ten containers with 1,184 kilos of cocaine.

As investigations continued, agents were able to identify other members of the organization. Some were responsible for receiving the drugs at sea and transporting them to the port, while others provided support from land and monitored the arrival of the fishing vessel.

This new phase led to a second phase of the operation, in which seven more individuals were arrested and one additional person was placed under investigation. Four of the ten arrested have been remanded in custody by court order.

Photo: Civil Guard