Spanish police seized more than 30 tonnes of hashish stashed on board four sailing boats in their biggest-ever drug haul at sea. The four boats were intercepted in the Atlantic during a four-day operation. Nine people of Bulgarian and Russian origin were arrested.

The vessels, which were sailing under British, German and Dutch flags, belonged to what police said was "the biggest criminal organization dedicated to trafficking hashish by sea."

Since the beginning of the year, Spanish police have seized nearly 35 tonnes of hashish belonging to the organization. It is allegedly run by Bulgarian nationals with a network of six sailing boats valued at some five million euros.