Catamaran intercepted in Straits with 3,200 kilos of hashish on board; allegedly organized by Irishman in jail

INTERNATIONAL (Agencies / Photo: Policía Nacional) In a joint operation between the National Police's Grupo Especial de Respuesta al Crimen Organizado (GRECO: Organized Crime Special Response Group) and Britain's corresponding anti-crime agency, a catamaran was intercepted in the Strait of Gibraltar yesterday. The rented boat, the Cariro II (photo), had set sail from Mallorca, according to police intelligence, and picke up 3,200 kilos of hashish near Kenitra in Morocco, and had intended to land its cargo in Helford, in the UK. The gang behind the operation was allegedly run from Málaga jail by an Irish inmate, who heads a group of mainly British criminals on the Costa del Sol, according to the same sources.>When the police heard about the catamaran being rented by a member of the gang, it set off the operation, sending a patrol boat from Cádiz to intercept it in waters between Kenitra and Larache, once it had taken delivery of the drug.

When the Cariro II was boarded some 3,200 kilos of hashish were found in some 90 bales. The operation set up a round up of the gang, including 10 arrested in Spain and 3 in Britain. Searches at various homes lea to the confiscation of large amounts of cash, including 420.000 pounds, 100.000 euros y 20.000 dollars.

 

This haul comes right behind a similar operation that took place only hours before, in which 1500 kilos of pure cocaine were intercepted off the coast of Portugal. The La Flibuste, flying a British flag and usually on charter in the Caribbean, was boarded by members of Spanish and Portuguese anti-drug units, who arrested one Spaniard and two Frenchmen.