A handmade semi-submersible has been located in the last few hours off the coast of Arousa (Pontevedra), and the Civil Guard and Customs Surveillance have taken charge of the investigation into this vessel, since everything indicates that it would be linked to the drug trafficking and with two planes that appeared stranded on the coast of Ribeira last February.
Investigation sources consulted by Europa Press have confirmed the discovery of the ship, one mile offshore, in front of the port of Vilaxoán, when it was practically sunk. The main hypothesis that is being handled is that this bathysphaco is linked to those two gliders, which would have been prepared for a discharge of narcotics transported in the semi-submersible.
The alert for the appearance of the bathyscaphe was given by sailors who were fishing in the area. In fact, the Civil Guard received a notice from a fishing boat around 10:15 a.m. this Monday.
Customs Surveillance and the Civil Guard itself, as well as the Maritime Rescue ship ‘Salvamar Sargadelos’, which has a base port in Ribeira, traveled to the place of sighting to do support work, in case fuel had spilled.
Customs Surveillance sources have confirmed that the ship is already sunk and that its troops have been able to lower an underwater drone, which has confirmed that it is a semi-submersible, closed (as was the ‘narco-submarine’ located off the coast of Aldán in November 2019).
At the moment the circumstances of the sinking of the boat are unknown, and everything indicates that there are no people inside. However, it will be the researchers who determine if divers can access the semi-submersible and check if it is carrying cargo or crew.
Likewise, the operation to refloat and tow it to a port is yet to be determined, since the conditions of the sea and the wind (an orange alert has been decreed) can complicate the maneuvers.
Apart from the offshore operation, an important security forces device has also been deployed on land in the port of Vilaxoán. Thus, there are agents from the National Police, from the UCO of the Civil Guard, and from the Tax Agency, with land and air means.
