VIDEO: Spanish police seize first European-made narco sub

Narco-sub was still under construction when found. [Image: Europol]

What’s thought to be first semi-submersible narco sub to be built in Europe has been seized in a warehouse in the city of Málaga, Spain. The seizure was made as part of Operation FERRO, a high-level law enforcement operation against an organized crime group involved in large-scale drugs trafficking.

Over 300 police officers carried out the operation in Spain, supported by the National Police of Colombia (Policía Nacional de Colombia), the Dutch National Police (Politie), the Portuguese Judicial Police (Polícia Judiciária), the U.K. National Crime Agency and U.S. Customs and Border Protection, with international activity coordinated by Europol.

The semi-submersible — the first of its kind seized on European soil — was still under construction when it was found. It was 9 meters long and could have been able to transport up to two tonnes of drugs, according to Europol.

A subsequent raid led to the seizure of a 15-meter speedboat, loaded with 7,000 liters of gasoline, and said by Europol to be worth over $350,000.

Thus far, the raids have led to the arrests of 52 individuals and the seizures of over 300 tons of cocaine, 700 kilos of hashish and over EUR 100,000 (about $120,000 in cash.