A semi-rigid vessel found in waters near El Hierro was carrying a large shipment of cocaine, with a provisional weight close to 500 kilograms, and was brought into port for a formal tally on Saturday after docking at the Arsenal in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. The discovery unfolded on the previous day, as maritime observers reported that the boat had been located in proximity to the Condor patrol craft, roughly 93 kilometers off the southwest coast of El Hierro. The four individuals aboard were detained as investigators continued to piece together the sequence of events surrounding the seizure. [Citation: Maritime security services and police authorities]
According to operational notes shared with the press, the vessel is commonly referred to in law enforcement jargon as a rubber boat, describing its semi-rigid construction. The capture occurred in a high-tact vicinity where authorities maintained a watchful presence, ensuring that the suspect crew could be stopped and the contraband secured for examination. The four occupants were taken into custody as officers collected preliminary evidence to establish the scope of the trafficking operation and identify those responsible for coordinating the shipment. [Citation: Police briefing]
Transferred to Gran Canaria
The ensuing phase of the operation involved Customs Surveillance officers from the tax administration, who directed the vessel toward the Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Naval Base for unloading and processing of the seized narcotics. The four detainees subsequently arrived at the naval facilities around mid-morning, as officials continued the formal procedures required to catalog and catalog the confiscated material and to advance the investigation. [Citation: Customs and police coordination]
In the initial accounting of the detainees, one individual was identified as a national of Spain, another as a person of Colombian origin, and the remaining two held Moroccan passports. The composition of the group reflects the international dimension often seen in maritime drug interdictions, where associates from different regions coordinate the logistics of illicit shipments. Investigators emphasized that the case is under active inquiry to map the network behind the operation and to determine the roles of each participant. [Citation: Investigation sources]
As the examination of the seized cargo proceeded, a provisional estimate placed the quantity of cocaine at roughly half a ton. The field-weight assessment will be refined as laboratory analyses confirm purity and packaging details, helping authorities understand the scale of the trafficking scheme and its potential connections to broader networks in the region. The case underscores the ongoing vigilance by authorities in Atlantic maritime lanes and the commitment to disrupt smuggling routes that extend from distant production sites toward consumer markets. [Citation: Forensic and operational updates]