Panama-flagged ship carrying 16,000 cattle detained in Spain by DEA

The Spanish National Police in association with units of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), detained the Panamanian-flagged ship “Mawashi Express”, which docked last Wednesday in the port city of San Roque in Cádiz, after be intervened by the National Court.

Spanish police sources confirmed to the EFE news agency that the DEA is responsible for the investigation into the ship, transporting almost 16,000 cattle from Colombia to Egypt.

Throughout the day, inspections are being carried out by agents on the freighter. The investigation is carried out under summary secrecy, according to sources from the Government Sub-delegation in Cádiz.

The DEA retained the vessel for inspection for possible trafficking of five tons of cocaine.

After contacts between the Algeciras Bay Port Authority (APBA) and the various ministries involved, it was determined that the ship should dock at the Crinavis dock, at the port facilities in the Campamento district, in San Roque.

The “Mawashi Express” left the port of Cartagena (Colombia) 16 days ago and was scheduled to arrive in Port Said (Egypt) on June 26.

Both the mayor of San Roque, Juan Carlos Ruiz Boix, and environmental groups from Gibraltar,  have expressed their concern about the presence of the ship in an area close to various beaches both on the San Roque coast and on La Línea de la Concepción, both for the inconvenience for bathers due to the smell emitted by the boat and for the well-being of the transported animals.