It was an unexpected turn for a routine night at sea. A 23-year-old Algerian man was detained last Monday after an incident that began far from shore and ended with a dramatic rescue. The vessel, a semi-rigid craft that had been stolen the day before near Alicante, wandered about 40 miles from the port of Cartagena before sailors from the coast guard spotted it and intervened. The detainee, who already carried a criminal record, signaled for help from the engine compartment and requested assistance at sea. A rapid response by Sea Rescue ensured his safety and the safe recovery of the craft. The sole crew member aboard was brought to the port of Cartagena and placed under arrest, while medical officials assessed him for treatment prior to any potential further actions. The authorities said the suspected robbery could be linked to broader criminal activity, and the detainee was taken for medical evaluation as part of the ongoing investigation [citation: Civil Guard].
The boat’s cabin carried several fuel barrels, a detail that alerted investigators to the possibility of a more serious operation underway. The circumstance points toward a potential connection with a drug-smuggling scheme, either to power a narcotics vessel or to load a stash offshore before moving it to shore. The vessel had been stolen in Alicante, and authorities noted that it could have served multiple purposes, including transporting illegal cargo or acting as a taxi boat in an illicit network, depending on how detection teams intercepted the situation. The investigation continues, and the authorities stress that shipments by sea, including those involving fuel or other resources, are sometimes used to facilitate drug movements from Alicante to Algeria and back, often entwined with irregular migration patterns observed in the area [citation: Civil Guard].
early morning theft
The theft occurred in the early hours of last Monday at Alicante Varadero port. The craft was described as an eight-meter semi-rigid inflatable boat equipped with a 200-horsepower outboard engine. Eyewitnesses and sources close to the case provided details that have helped reconstruct the sequence of events, revealing a calculated departure that went unnoticed by the routine checks at the waterfront. The timeline shows the thief managed to start the motor and slip away from Alicante port without drawing immediate attention. The rapid chain of events then shifted into action as the vessel traveled outward, with alarms and geolocation indicators eventually triggering a response from rescue services and the security forces [citation: Civil Guard].
The initial joy of the escape was short-lived. By nine thirty in the morning, the on-board alarm system activated and the vessel’s whereabouts were pinpointed by Sea Rescue. The craft drifted about 40 miles from Cartagena before the rescue team could intervene. Despite sustaining some material damage, the boat was recovered, and its owner was engaged in the process of formal recovery and assessment. The incident underscores how quickly a nighttime theft can escalate into a scene of pursuit and rescue, drawing in multiple agencies and highlighting ongoing concerns about illicit activities linked to maritime crime in the region [citation: Civil Guard].