24.11.2016 – 7.12.2016 ISLAND CONNECTIONS 784 13

The Guardia Civil’s ‘Opera-tion Teatrero’ began in July with the arrest of a suspected drug supplier in Los Llanos de Aridane in La Palma. It quickly became clear that the suspect was part of a large smuggling ring, which brought hashish from Morocco to the Canar-ies using fast inflatable boats.The investigations were initi-ated and increased when offi-cials reached the conclusion that a larger consignment was to come in September. They observed several people of interest, and became aware of one of the heads of the gang responsible for quality control of the goods, the selection of the route, and the recruitment of staff. Officers from Tenerife's

organised crime and anti-drugs teams were then sent to Gran Canaria, where a shipment was expected to arrive.The hashish was brought from El Aiún in the Western Sahara, on fast boats to the open sea where the smugglers were met by another vessel. The cargo was transferred from one boat to the other and then taken to a port in Gran Canaria. From there, the idea was that part of the shipment would be sent to the gang in Gran Canaria, while the rest would be trans-ferred to La Palma.Police drugs unit officers were positioned so that they could see the fishing port of La Sar-dina near Gáldar on the north western tip of Gran Canaria,

where the boat departed to meet the smugglers' vessel and transfer the cargo of hashish.At La Sardina, the Guardia Civil intercepted the boat, now loaded with hashish, when it returned to port. The occupants tried in vain to escape and four Moroccans were arrested. It was confirmed that the drugs had been transferred success-fully out at sea, so when the Spanish captain of the boat moored in the harbour returned with his vehicle, the police were waiting for him. He was intercepted and admitted that the drugs were hidden in the back of the cabin.The captain was arrested while officers confiscated his boat and seized 810 kilogrammes

of hashish. This occurred on September 22, and in order to safeguard the investigation which had not yet been com-pleted, the operation continued in secrecy. Several apartments were searched for evidence and in addition to the five previous

arrests, officers seized a fast launch boat with two engines, €21,325 in cash, two vehicles, six mobile phones, and one sat-ellite phone.On the basis of the data on the phones, the officers were able to confirm that the gang

kept themselves constantly informed about current police checks and risky locations. With the completion of Oper-ation Teatrero, police were able to smash a major drug route between Morocco and the Canaries. n

CANARY ISLANDS

OPERATION TEATRERO

Moroccan hashish ring bustedThe captain and his boat: both are in police custody

The police were able to seize €21.325 euros in cash

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