MADRID (Reuters) - The seizure of a submarine carrying 3,000 kilograms (3.3 tonnes) of cocaine off the coast of Spain marks a "historic" turning point in the fight against drug trafficking, Spanish authorities said on Wednesday.
Police described it as the first intercepted drug-trafficking submarine in Europe, adding in a statement that it was seized in waters off the northwestern Galicia region on Saturday with 152 carefully packaged cocaine containers.
The market value of the seized drug is estimated at 100 million euros ($ 110.22 million), Javier Losada, head of the central government delegation in Galicia, told reporters on Wednesday.
"This is a historic process, which will mark a turning point for the security forces because they will now have to deal with this new possibility."
| Market value of seized drugs estimated at $ 110 million (Reuters) |
Spanish officials said they had initially received information about the submarine from a joint working group of more than one government working to combat drug trafficking, triggering the tracking operation that led to the seizure of the submarine on Saturday evening.
Police said the operation also relied on the assistance of police forces from Brazil, Portugal and the United States.