The inflatable boat that ran aground on the coast of Mala, in Lanzarote, was linked to drug trafficking, according to the Security and Emergency Consortium. The four occupants, three Spaniards and one Frenchman, have been arrested by the Civil Guard.
The Civil Guard has arrested three Spanish citizens and one French citizen as the alleged responsible parties for the drug haul that the inflatable boat was carrying when it ran aground this Saturday on the coast of Mala, in the municipality of Haría, Lanzarote. Sources from the Lanzarote Security and Emergency Consortium confirmed that the incident is related to drug trafficking and ruled out that it was an irregular immigration arrival, as had initially been speculated.
The inflatable boat, about ten meters long, was spotted around 19:00 hours as it approached La Garita beach in Arrieta. However, instead of heading towards the sand, it continued its course towards the rocky area of El Lajero, where it ultimately ran aground. Eyewitnesses reported that moments before the grounding, they saw several packages being thrown into the sea, which raised suspicions that they might contain drugs.
Local Police, the Civil Guard, and members of the Lanzarote Security and Emergency Consortium were dispatched to the scene to participate in the operation. The agents managed to intercept the four occupants of the boat, who were arrested on the spot. The investigation, which remains open, aims to determine the quantity and type of drugs that may have been transported, as well as the final destination of the haul.
The incident has generated significant interest in the area, as there was initially speculation that it could be a boat carrying immigrants, something common on the Canary Islands' coasts. However, authorities have made it clear that there is no connection to irregular immigration and that everything points to a drug trafficking operation.
The detainees, whose identities have not been disclosed, remain at the disposal of the judiciary while the Civil Guard continues with the proceedings. More details about the alleged haul and possible connections to the drug trafficking network are expected to emerge in the coming hours.
The Lanzarote Security and Emergency Consortium has closely collaborated with the Civil Guard in the operation, which has included searching the coastal area to recover the packages thrown into the sea. Authorities have called for public cooperation for anyone with relevant information to contact the Civil Guard.
This incident highlights the persistence of drug trafficking on the Canary Islands' coasts, which use maritime routes to introduce drugs from North Africa. Lanzarote, due to its proximity to the African continent, is a strategic point for these illegal operations.
The investigation is ongoing, and it is expected that all details of this operation will be clarified in the coming days. Meanwhile, residents of the Mala and Arrieta areas have expressed their surprise at what occurred, although they trust that the police action has been effective in preventing the drugs from reaching their destination.
Authorities remind that any information about suspicious activities along the coast can be reported anonymously to the Civil Guard via phone number 062.
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