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Detained drug smuggling ship was at risk of sinking
The ' United S' which has been seized in Tenerife, suffered a leak in its hull and was at risk of sinking on March 4 at 2:00 p.m., and the Port Authority activated its Maritime Emergency Plan (PIM) in Phase 0, or preventative phase, as well as the National Maritime Emergency Plan. Personnel from both entities, as well as divers from the Atlantic Underwater Services, were dispatched to the scene. The divers were responsible for plugging the leak, but only from the outer side of the hull. On March 5 at 7:00 p.m. the Port Authority confirmed that the leak was under control and would be monitored in the coming days to assess its progress and determine any necessary actions.Until 10:00 p.m., a tanker was used to remove the water accumulated inside the vessel and transported it to the Refinery facilities, as it was mixed with oils and fuel residues. The vessel has been docked at the Los Llanos Dock in the port of Santa Cruz de Tenerife since January. A possible sinking would not affect the investigation being carried out by agents of the Drugs and Organized Crime Unit (UDYCO) of the National Police, both from the Central Narcotics Brigade and the specialized group working in Tenerife. When the vessel was intercepted west of the Canary Islands, it had departed from Turkey to receive the large drug shipment in waters near Brazil. At that time, it was making its last voyage before being scrapped. The ten tons of cocaine found on the ship were the largest haul of that drug ever seized in Europe. Report with photo: https://www.eldia.es/sucesos/sucesos-en-canarias/2026/03/05/barco-10-toneladas-cocaina-tenerife-127608065.html
Spanish authorities intercepted almost 10 tonnes of cocaine hidden aboard the 'United S' - disabled ship towed to Santa Cruz
The Spanish authorities have intercepted almost 10 tonnes of cocaine hidden aboard the 'United S' 535 kilometers off the Canary Islands in the country’s largest-ever drug seizure at sea. The bust, worth more than €100m ($116.5m), followed the boarding about 332 miles west of the Canaries on Jan 11, 2026. Acting on intelligence linked to a multinational criminal network exporting enormous quantitiesof cocaine from South America to Europe, officers from Spain’s elite GEO unit stormed the vessel as it crossed the Atlantic enroute from Brasil. The ship was taken to Santa Cruz de Tenerife on Jan 12 under escorted and subsequently detained. The ship's AIS had been disabled for over a month. During the following search, the police discovered 9,994 kg of cocaine packed into 294 bales, concealed beneath tonnes of salt cargo. A firearm used to protect the shipment was also recovered, and 13 crew members were arrested. The operation, dubbed White Tide, was carried out in close cooperation with the Brasilian federal police, the US Drug Enforcement Administration, the UK’s National Crime Agency, and French and Portuguese authorities. After the raid, the ship ran out of fuel and drifted for around 12 hours before SASEMA towed it to Santa Cruz de Tenerife. The seizure represented a decisive blow to international criminal networks involved in maritime cocaine trafficking. The haul surpassed Spain’s previous maritime record of 7.5 tonnes seized from the trawler 'Tammsaare' in 1999. The operational model combined untraceable vessels, legal loopholes in international maritime law, and Atlantic routes where the Canary Islands serve as a critical transit point. The 'United S' had been sailing for months without a recognised flag and has past registrations in countries like Togo, Belize, and Sierra Leone. Such ageing merchant ships are frequently exploited by drug cartels. The National Court judge José Luis Calama has sent six of the 13 crew members to prison, the remainder was detained on board. Reports with photos and video: https://tenerifeweekly.com/2026/01/12/an-expert-uncovers-the-hidden-pattern-behind-europes-largest-cocaine-haul-zombie-ships-ghost-fleet/ https://splash247.com/e100m-cocaine-haul-seized-from-bulk-carrier-off-canary-islands/ https://www.schuttevaer.nl/nieuws/actueel/2026/01/12/spanje-legt-zeeschip-united-s-aan-de-ketting-na-grote-drugsvondst/ https://maritime-executive.com/article/pirates-kidnap-chinese-crewmembers-from-fishing-vessel-off-gabon https://www.puentedemando.com/el-alijo-de-cocaina-del-buque-united-s-descargado-en-tenerife-asciende-a-casi-diez-toneladas/ https://www.lavozdelanzarote.com/en/news/courts/6-of-the-13-crew-members-of-the-ship-seized-with-almost-ten-of-cocaine-imprisoned_240578_102.html
UNITUD S 7359149
Vessel "Indian" underway from aarhus til Tau anchored outside Stavanger yesterday with engine problems. The weather was rough in the area and a tug was standby near the vessel. At 18.00 local time today the vessel proceeded to Tau.
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