Royal Navy Foils Two Drug Trafficking Operations

Rabat - A coastguard of the Royal Navy in the Mediterranean foiled Monday at 4 a.m. a drug trafficking operation led by four people aboard an inflatable boat carrying large quantities of drugs, said a military source. After a high speed chase that lasted 40 minutes and despite warning shots, the boat refused to comply, the source pointed out, adding that the coastguard was thus forced to open fire and target the boat's engine.

This operation led to the death of one of the traffickers who was struck by a ricochet bullet, while another one was injured, it said, adding that the drugs were seized all the suspects were brought to the port of Tangier and handed over to local authorities. On the same day, another unit of the Royal Navy foiled a drug trafficking operation off the coast of the city of Assilah at 6 a.m., the source said.

This operation led to the arrest of four dealers and the seizure of a large quantity of drugs. The suspects and the drug seized were handed to the Royal Gendarmerie, according to the same source.