LAS PALMAS -- Spanish authorities have seized a Brazilian-flagged fishing boat off the Canary Islands with 1.5 tonnes of cocaine in a hidden compartment in its machine room, police said on Friday as they brought the boat to the port of Las Palmas.
Authorities shared a video of the 25-metre (82.02 ft) Efesios 5-20 being approached on rough seas by a speedboat sent from the patrol ship Condor.
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| Drugs lie near a Brazilian fishing boat on which they were found, in the port of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, after its crew members were detained by the Spanish police officers for transporting approximately 1500 kilograms of cocaine on board, Gran Canaria, Spain, May 12, 2023. Photo: Reuters |
Officers arrested the crew of six people - five Brazilians and a Venezuelan national. The boat's name - Ethesians 5:20 in English - is a reference to a prayer by Paul the Apostle praising and thanking God.
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| A Brazilian fishing boat docks in the port of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, after its crew members were detained by the Spanish police officers for transporting approximately 1500 kilograms of cocaine on board, Gran Canaria, Spain, May 12, 2023. Photo: Reuters |
Police said boats transporting drugs from Latin America often transfer their cargoes to other vessels in mid-Atlantic to more easily reach the European market. The Efesios 5-20 caught their attention because it was so close to the Spanish islands off the northwestern coast of Africa.
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| Spanish police officers carry out a test on drugs found on an intercepted Brazilian fishing vessel carrying approximately 1500 kg of cocaine in Gran Canaria, Spain, May 12, 2023. Photo: Reuters |
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| Police officers lead the captain of a fishing boat to a police car, after a fishing vessel carrying approximately 1500 kg of cocaine on board was intercepted off the island of Gran Canaria, Spain, May 12, 2023. Photo: Reuters |
