Spain’s Guardia Civil have arrested two Dutch nationals after discovering a fishing boat with 9,200 kilos of hashish on board.

The two, who have not been identified, will appear in court in Almeria but no date has been given. The boat was in difficulty in high seas when it was stopped near the coast, the Guardia Civil report said.

The arrests were made as part of a Frontex operation in the Mediterranean Sea, in which the EU’s border organisation has been cracking down on smugglers.

Since the launch of the operation in August, 28 smugglers have been arrested. They are suspected of trying to smuggle 1,500 would-be refugees plus 18,000 kilos of hashish and a large quantity of tobacco into Europe. The special campaign will end in October.