30m superyacht seized in Balearic Islands’ biggest-ever drugs haul

30.36-metre (100-foot) expedition motor yacht Yacht HCH-X was intercepted by Spanish Customs off the coast of Ibiza on Sunday (19^th August) on suspicion of drugs trafficking.

Halter Marine-built Yacht HCH-X was found to be carrying 300kg of cocaine, believed to be the biggest ever discovery on the Balearic Islands, with a street value of up to €18 million. The haul was found divided into two parts of 150kg each, hidden inside the yacht’s interior and captain’s cabin.

Five crewmembers have been arrested – four of Dutch nationality and one German. The suspects, along with the yacht and the seized cocaine, have been placed in the hands of a court in Palma de Mallorca.

Yacht HCH-X, flying the Gibraltar flag, was tracked over the weekend as it left Palma and headed towards Spanish mainland. Surveillance from the air recorded crew retrieving a number of packages that been deposited into the sea by a cargo ship.

Police say “Operation Haircut” is still open and there will be further arrests. Investigations have been ongoing since mid-2016, when a yacht linked to a cocaine network was located in Mallorca.

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