Spanish and French customs maritime units, with naval vessels from both countries, seized 1,230 kg of hashish during a joint air and naval operation in the Mediterranean on 29 and 30 April 2010.[1] Seven people were arrested and two vessels were seized.[1]
The first seizure was made by the Customs Surveillance Special Operations Vessel Petrel I on the morning of 30 April, when it intercepted a 10-metre semi-rigid boat with two 150-horsepower engines about 60 miles south of Cartagena.[1] Three undocumented people were on board, and officers found 40 bales holding 1,200 kg of hashish inside.[1] The patrol vessel Abanto took the crew, drugs and boat to Cartagena, where they were placed before the courts.[1]
The second seizure was made by a French Navy frigate in the same area during the night of 29 to 30 April from a speedboat with four people on board.[1] Officers seized 30 kg from that vessel, estimating the crew had thrown some 1,800 kg of hashish overboard before arrest, and handed the crew and drugs to the Marseille Judicial Police.[1] The agency said the operation formed part of its Selective Navigation Plan of reinforced air and naval surveillance with national and international cooperation.[1]
