MADRID: A merchant ship named “Just Reema”, flying the flag of the Democratic Republic of Congo, was intercepted 15 tons of hashish seized off the coast of Málagaby the Guardia Civil and the Spanish customs authorities 45 miles off the coast of Málaga on Wednesday and the nine crew were arrested after 15.7 tons of hashish resin was found on board.
Those detained were six Syrians and three Indians, and the matter is now being investigated by the courts of Málaga after 500 bundles of hashish were found concealed among the 1,500-ton cargo of salt.
The boat was spotted by an Italian reconnaissance aircraft involved in combating drug trafficking in the western Mediterranean, and it is believed that the cargo of hashish set sail from northern Africa and was intended for redistribution to smaller craft which would transport it to Spain and Italy.