Maneuvers to refloat the narco-submarine that sank at the mouth of the Arousa estuary in Pontevedra have been successfully completed. The Government delegate in Galicia announced this at 14:00 on Tuesday, confirming that the bathyscaphe-like vessel was empty and would be transferred to Illa de Arousa for registration in the following hours.
Earlier, the Government Delegation in Galicia posted that Civil Guards and Customs Surveillance were advancing with the refloat of the semisubmersible craft discovered in Vilaxoán, which was now nearly fully on the surface. The Pontevedra deputy joined the现场 assessment shortly after confirming that the vessel had been brought ashore. The operation had been anticipated to begin early in the morning, proceed as planned, and then surface and be withdrawn for further steps.
Strong waves had slowed the operation on Monday, but with calmer seas today the task was carried out with care and efficiency rather than haste.
▶️ Civil Guard Customs Surveillance continues to push forward in confronting the emerging semi-combined artifact near Vilaxóan. The facility in Pontevedra, managed by Maica Larriba, remains involved in supervisory and operational roles. This post was issued by the Government Delegation in Galicia on the afternoon of March 14, 2023 .
refloated
In the morning, Larriba explained that air was being blown to aid refloating the craft from the seabed. The vessel, largely buried in mud with only the bow slightly above the surface, presented a delicate challenge: lifting the stern and body without causing damage. The same O Grove-based company responsible for the Cangas narcobot operation was hired again for this task.
Shortly before 13:00, a crane ship stabilized the narcosubmarine as it surfaced. The bow, protruding above water, was raised first, followed by a gradual lifting of the rest of the hull until the entire vessel was afloat and stable on the surface.
Once secured, the craft would be moved to a dedicated facility for meticulous documentation. The Government delegate in Galicia explained that it would be transferred to Illa de Arousa where suitable handling and screening systems would be in place for its processing .
A waterproof diver, skilled in fiberglass crafts and capable of handling loads up to five tons, assisted the operation. The equipment used was reminiscent of the device seized at Aldán in November 2019, underscoring a consistent approach to narcotics-related incidents in the region.
The largest size: up to 22 meters
Officials estimated the submarine was larger than originally believed. The craft appeared to have more aft burial than first anticipated, leading delegates to state that its length could range from 15 to 22 meters, exceeding the size of the vessel discovered at Cangas. The depth of burial and the vessel’s overall dimensions complicated the refloat but did not prevent a successful recovery.
Images and notes from the operation were captured by accompanying personnel and documented for later analysis. This ongoing work aims to determine the full scale of the contraption and the cargo it was designed to carry .
Operation photos and footage from the refloat show divers and support crews coordinating around the hull as it was brought to a stable position for inspection and recording. The aim is to understand the construction, capacity, and potential cargo handling systems embedded in the submersible craft.
open inquiry
Officials stated that all hypotheses remain on the table until the vessel reaches port and undergoes a thorough interior inspection. The inquiry will be handled by the Court No. 2 of Vilagarcía, with investigators weighing evidence and potential links to other drug-smuggling activities in the area.
The most weighty possibility is that the semisubmersible may be connected to drug boats found ashore at Ribeira last February. Indications point to the unloading of narcotics carried by the submarine, with a plan to sink the vessel and leave it at the bottom of the estuary if discovery would jeopardize the operation. Investigative sources suggested that the cocaine was unlikely to be found inside the bath, reinforcing the theory that the traffickers intended to lose the vessel at sea or at the bottom of the estuary .
Two large boats had run aground near Ribeira about three weeks earlier: one was empty, the other cracked, but full gas tanks were recovered. They were located around 8:30 a.m. on February 22, with a 12-meter long planing craft and two powerful Yamaha engines discovered, along with some fuel drums. A separate discovery off the coast at O Vilar, near the mouth of the small A Lagoa river, revealed another similar glider equipped with three engines. One engine was recovered by sea transit, another was transported to Vilagarcía’s pier, and a third was carted away by gondola due to navigational damage .
In subsequent hours, a second alert described another similar vessel off the coast as a potential second find, reinforcing the scope of the maritime smuggling network involved. The coast guard and police continue analyzing any floating debris and signs of cargo, while local authorities maintain a careful watch along the estuary and nearby beaches for further clues or vessels that could be linked to the operation.