Spain’s Guardia Civil and the Tax Agency’s customs service wrapped up the nine-day Operación Escorpio across Málaga and Cádiz on 25 January 2001, detaining 56 people and seizing 4,109 kilograms of hashish.[1][2] Officers also impounded 14 vehicles, 12 boats and four outboard motors after making more than 500 checks of vehicles and vessels.[1][2]
Among the largest hauls, three people were caught at La Térmica beach in Málaga moving 26 bales weighing 720 kilos in a launch spotted by a customs patrol boat; two were arrested after fleeing in a stolen luxury car that ran aground near a football field.[1][2] Off Algeciras, divers recovered nine bales (about 270 kilos) thrown overboard from an intercepted launch, and a second launch carrying 120 kilos rammed a Gibraltar police patrol boat while fleeing.[1][2] The detentions also covered contraband tobacco and migrant transport, and officers located 362 migrants trying to reach the Cádiz and Málaga coasts.[1][2]
