Three tonnes of cannabis seized in Campo

Guardia Civil officers seized over three tonnes of cannabis resin in two separate anti-drug operations in San Roque and La Linea this week.

Both operations involved high-speed chases at sea during which the smugglers threw bales of drugs overboard.

In both cases the smugglers fled and avoided arrest, but the Spanish officers recovered a total of 89 bales of drugs, according to a statement issued by the Guardia Civil.

The first operation took place on Guadalquitón beach in San Roque.

Guardia Civil began chasing the boat after being informed of its whereabouts by the SIVE, Spain’s coastal surveillance system.

Smugglers on the boat began ditching the drugs overboard as they raced to the coastline with the Guardia Civil in hot pursuit.

They beached their vessel and fled on foot, managing to evade Guardia Civil units on land.

Officers found 12 bales on the vessel and recovered 54 more from the sea, a total haul weighing 2,240 kilos.

The second anti-drug operation took place in La Atunara Port in La Linea de la Conception.

This time, the drug traffickers fled out to sea as they threw bales over the side.

Spanish officers recovered 23 bales weighing 776 kilos, but the smugglers got away.

Pic by John Piris