Eight Ukrainian seafarers have been arrested after Spanish customs officials found drugs on their general cargoship.
The country's tax agency said the 1,600-dwt Moldovan-flagged Elg (built 1983) was intercepted on Monday carrying 10 tons of hashish, 98 miles south of Cartagena.
Aerial surveillance had detected the ship with several semi-rigid boats around it and agents moved in on three patrol boats based in Cartagena and Palma de Mallorca.
They found 350 bales of the drug in the bow hold.
The patrol vessels then escorted the ship into Cartagena.
The operation was part of a surveillance service against drug trafficking through the so-called Eastern Mediterranean route, which sees large quantities of narcotics brought to Europe from North Africa.
The investigation started six months ago when the ship came under suspicion, the government said.
Italian, French and Turkish authorities collaborated in the investigation.
In March, the Paris MOU banned the ship for three months after it was detained for the third time in three years with 11 deficiencies.
These included faults with emergency lighting and rescue boats.
As of 30 April, Equasis lists the operator as Adoken Shipping of Turkey, which could not be contacted.
