Dutch Sailboat Intercepted at Canary Islands with 80 Million Euro Cocaine on Board in Sports Bags

las palmas - A Dutch sailboat was seized with 2.2 tons of cocaine on board in the waters of the Canary Islands, leading to significant prison sentences and fines for the crew.

A Dutch sailboat was intercepted in the waters of the Canary Islands last August with 2.2 tons of cocaine on board, packed in sports bags. The crew members were also fined a total of around 3 million euros. According to Spanish media reports, the criminal court of the Audiencia Nacional handed down severe prison sentences after the case was heard.

The sailboat, which was in very poor condition, was sank after being intercepted with a large quantity of cocaine on board. The individuals on board were held responsible for a crime against public health related to illegal drug trafficking that causes serious harm. One of them had a previous conviction for drug smuggling.

The successful operation was the result of intensive international police cooperation beginning in August last year. The sailboat, which was flying a Dutch flag at the start of its journey, was reported to have left South America with an inactive location system to avoid detection at sea. The authorities in Belgrade had shared information identifying a criminal organization operating from Serbia and across the EU, which eventually led to the interception of the Dutch sailboat in Spanish waters.

Spanish authorities, with the help of international agencies, managed to seize the boat around 2000 kilometers from the Canary Islands. Plans were in place to transport the cocaine to marinas in the Valencia region for distribution across Europe. The Drug and Organized Crime Unit (UDYCO) sought permission from the Dutch and Polish authorities to board the sailboat, as it was carrying their flags, but no registration was found for the vessel.

The Spanish Navy located the sailboat on August 24 last year, discovering 89 sport bags on board, each containing around 25 kilograms of cocaine with a purity level of 93%. The total street value of the seized cocaine was estimated at around 80 million euros.

Despite claims by the suspects' lawyers that the interception was illegal without permission from Dutch and Polish authorities, the court ruled in favor of the Spanish authorities. The crew's defense that they were unaware of the contents of the packages was also dismissed by the judge. Further investigation is ongoing to uncover more about the criminal organization behind the drug trafficking operation.