What Crew Members Say About Admiral

A police investigation has unveiled connections between the notorious Castañas clan from Andalusia and a massive cocaine haul of 3,800 kilos found aboard the cargo vessel 'Karar' in 2020. Reports indicate that members of this clan were collaborating with a Galician criminal network, allegedly led by Juan Carlos Santórum, the principal accused in the 'Karar' case. This connection was established during surveillance operations that began in June 2019, several months prior to the ship's seizure in April 2020. Investigators traced the movements of individuals linked to the Castañas family between Andalusia and Galicia, as well as their engagements in Portugal. Notably, the group investigated was observed visiting shipyards known for the production of semi-rigid boats often employed in drug trafficking operations. Key testimony has surfaced during the ongoing trial at the Vigo Provincial Court in Pontevedra, where 28 defendants are facing charges. One witness testified that he had not seen a regular working pattern from Santórum and other accused parties. A police officer alleged that a certain Fidel F., also among the accused and known for vessel construction in Galicia, had connections with Sergio R.T. through intercepted communications involving the acquisition of 300 HP engines for boats. In March 2020, authorities noted that Fidel F. sought naval gray paint—typically used to camouflage boats transporting illicit drugs. A significant turning point occurred on March 27, when investigators received intelligence from the DEA indicating that a Portuguese telephone number linked to Fidel F. was associated with a ship carrying a substantial cocaine shipment. Following up on this lead, they identified a certain José, a Galician national, as a passenger on the vessel, which had departed from Panama. As they traced the journey of the 'Karar,' they monitored communications indicating that the shipment was on track for delivery. During the subsequent hearing, the defense challenged the credibility of the police witness, claiming procedural issues due to their reliance on notes during testimony. However, the presiding magistrate dismissed this objection, allowing the proceedings to continue.

The trial concerning a significant drug bust involving the vessel 'Karar' entered a crucial phase on April 22, marking the start of interrogations for the accused individuals. After three days dedicated to preliminary inquiries, the spotlight shifted to the 14 crew members, hailing from Nepal and Bangladesh, who have been held for four years. These sailors, now approaching the culmination of their maximum preventive detention period, are set to be released this week. The initial testimonies came from six crew members, including the captain Alim Ullah, a 48-year-old Bangladeshi national, who confessed to his involvement in the drug trafficking operation. Ullah revealed that following their departure from Panama, they loaded approximately 3.8 tons of cocaine in international waters off the Colombian coast, with final instructions to transport the illicit cargo to Vigo, roughly 350 nautical miles from the coastal city. In addition to the crew, José Manuel Blanco Gestido, a Spanish national from Bueu, found himself implicated by the testimony of the captain and crew, being identified as the individual overseeing the illegal cargo. Due to the unique circumstances surrounding the foreign crew's imminent release, the prosecutor agreed to commence the interrogations with these sailors. Their defense teams have indicated their intention to request exemptions from trial sessions until the verdict is reached, considering that the crew faces challenges in integrating into society upon release, lacking financial resources and ties to Spain. During the proceedings, Ullah was the first to offer his insights, aided by an interpreter. He recounted the moment on April 25, 2020, at 6:20 a.m., when the 'Karar' was intercepted, revealing the hidden stash of cocaine. Other crew members who testified included Bangladeshis Mohammed Iman Sharif, Mohammed Ataur Rahman, Altaf Hossain, and Mahfuzul Hoque, alongside Nepalese sailor Tamang Kiran, all of whom acknowledged their roles in the operation. They are collectively facing potential prison sentences of 13.5 years as outlined in the prosecutor's preliminary report. The crew members described how a nautical chart on the vessel's bridge indicated the unloading point for the drugs. Initially unaware of their cargo's illegal nature, they later admitted to understanding the voyage's purpose once in Panama and acknowledged that they spent one to two hours loading the contraband off the Colombian coastline at night, utilizing a crane for the process. Notably, Blanco Gestido took meticulous notes during this operation, documenting the bundles stored in a sealed tank secured with screws. Furthermore, Kiran, the Nepalese crew member, disclosed his communications with an individual named Lama—who remains uncharged but is allegedly linked to the smuggling operation—prior to the departure of the 'Karar'. This ongoing case sheds light on the complexities of international drug trafficking and the precarious positions of foreign crew members in such operations.

In a significant development in a high-profile drug trafficking investigation, a police officer detained in Vigo is slated to take the stand in an upcoming trial. The officer, who was removed from his duty due to alleged connections to illegal drug activities related to the seizure of the tugboat 'Karar', will now testify despite defense requests to halt his questioning. This request came after his arrest in March, amidst growing concerns regarding the unexplained disappearance of 60 kilograms of cocaine from a total of 3,824 kilograms confiscated from the vessel. The Pontevedra Court has affirmed that the officer, who is considered the primary witness for the National Police, will provide critical testimony. The trial is set to commence on April 17, 2024, in Vigo. Notably, the detained officer previously held the position of chief inspector with the National Police and acted as a liaison for the Ministry of the Interior in Colombia until last month when he was apprehended in Vigo.