A joint operation by the National Police, Civil Guard, and Customs Surveillance surprised an organization unloading bales from a semi-rigid boat at the fishing dock. During the operation, several explosions occurred, and officers fired warning shots, but no injuries were reported.
Operation BABAYAGA has resulted in the arrest of ten people and the seizure of approximately 400 kilos of hashish in Castillo del Romeral , Gran Canaria . The joint operation by the National Police , the Civil Guard , and the Deputy Directorate of Customs Surveillance (DAVA) culminated in the early hours of August 12 , after investigators detected a vessel arriving at the town's fishing port.
A drug landing monitored by investigators
The investigation began in early July when various agencies and organizations received concurring information about the possible use of this area of the Gran Canaria coastline as an entry point for narcotics, destined for distribution in the Canary Islands or transport to mainland Spain. After analyzing the evidence and coordinating the investigations, a joint operation was agreed upon to identify and dismantle the organizations involved.
The agents learned that one of these organizations was preparing a new shipment during the week of August 10th. Based on this information, an operation was deployed which, during the night of the 11th, detected unusual activity in the vicinity of the fishing pier, as well as several vehicles and individuals presumably connected to the shipment's arrival.
A semi-rigid boat arrived at the dock at 23:50 hours
At approximately 23:50 p.m. , investigators observed a semi-rigid inflatable boat arriving at the dock . Once ashore, several people began unloading bales and loading them into one of the vehicles already there. It was then that the deployed forces intervened to secure the area and arrest several suspected members of the organization.
The operation was marked by moments of particular tension. According to information provided by the National Police, several explosions were set off by members of the organization. Officers responded by firing several warning shots while reiterating their status as members of the security forces. No injuries were reported.
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Ten arrested and about 400 kilos of hashish seized
Following the intervention, some of those involved surrendered while others attempted to flee. The operation concluded with ten arrests and the seizure of approximately 400 kilograms of hashish, thus preventing the shipment from entering and being distributed.
Operation BABAYAGA is coordinated by the National Police's Drug and Organized Crime Unit (UDYCO) , the Civil Guard's Organized Crime and Anti-Drug Teams ( EDOA ), and the Canary Islands Customs Surveillance Directorate ( DAVA ). The operation aims to combat the use of the Castillo del Romeral area as an entry point for narcotics and the activity of criminal organizations linked to drug trafficking.
