Spain’s Guardia Civil, in collaboration with Morocco’s Territorial Surveillance Agency (DGST), intercepted two inflatable boats attempting to ship 4.7 tons of cannabis resin to the Canary Islands, according to Moroccan security sources.
Spanish authorities executed a surveillance operation after receiving crucial intelligence on the imminent arrival of two drug-filled boats on the coast of Gran Canaria from the DGST.
The DGST provided the Guardia Civil with critical information such as departure times, navigation routes, and details of the drug-carrying vessels. The intel allowed Spanish authorities to narrow down the search to a targeted zone, around 50 nautical miles between Gran Canaria and Fuerteventura, Morocco’s security sources stated.
To pinpoint the exact area of arrival, the data was triangulated with maritime radar observations and reconnaissance flights, increasing the effectiveness of the Spanish patrol boats Río Tambre and Canal Bocayna.
Two men controlled each boat, and they attempted evasive maneuvers with unpredictable routes during a chase. However, thanks to anticipatory tracking and coordinated maneuvers between patrol boats, the smugglers were intercepted.
DGST also discovered temporary storage points on the coast and recurring communication patterns between traffickers, which they relayed to Spanish security forces.
The collaboration highlights Morocco’s growing intelligence capabilities both domestically and also in cross-border contexts.