Around 50 nautical miles off the coast of Tenerife, there was a spectacular chase on the high seas. A Dufour 40 named "Lona" was targeted by Spanish customs, who had apparently received information about a large quantity of cocaine on board. When the customs officers turned up with a patrol boat and a special operations vessel, the two-man crew of the sailing boat panicked and tried to destroy the evidence.
Dramatic escape under sail
In a desperate attempt to avoid prosecution, the French and Dutch skippers took extreme measures: they set fire to their own boat under full sail. Smoke rose from the stern while the "Lona" continued to sail. One crew member fled to the foredeck to escape the smoke. The customs officers pursued the burning sailing boat with their patrol vessels "Sacre" and "Petrel I".
Despite the efforts of the smugglers to destroy the evidence, the officers of the "Servicio de Vigilancia Aduanera de la Agencia Tributaria" managed to stop the sailing boat and contain the fire. During the subsequent search, 25 kilograms of cocaine were seized. However, all help came too late for the "Lona", an older Dufour 40. The fire broke out again and the boat finally sank on the high seas.
The two crew members were rescued from the water after their burning boat sank. One of the men suffered serious burns in the incident and had to be evacuated by helicopter. His accomplice was handed over to the Guardia Civil after returning to the harbour of Santa Cruz de Tenerife.
International co-operation
The operation was the result of intensive international cooperation. According to the Spanish authorities, crucial intelligence information was provided by the British National Crime Agency (NCA) and the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Coordination took place via the Centro de Análisis contra el Narcotráfico Marítimo en el Atlántico (MAOC) and the Spanish Centro de Inteligencia con el Terrorismo y el Crimen Organizado (CITCO).
Increased monitoring of coastal waters
The operation was part of an intensified monitoring and control plan for the waters around the Canary Islands. As part of these measures, the authorities received information about unusual ship movements during a routine operation. There had been information about a suspected imminent transfer of drugs from a sailing boat near Tenerife to a rigid-hulled inflatable boat that was to bring the goods to the coast.
The operation illustrates the close cooperation between various Spanish and international authorities in the fight against drug trafficking. The customs service Servicio de Vigilancia Aduanera de la Agencia Tributaria, the Policía Nacional and the Guardia Civil worked hand in hand to analyse the intelligence and prepare the raid. The operation shows how important international cooperation and the exchange of information are in the fight against organised crime.
