This is the moment a major narcotics gang was dismantled after police seized 10.6 tonnes of hashish near the border between Spain and Portugal.

The Guardia Civil and Portugal’s Guarda Nacional Republicana (GNR) arrested 10 people during the joint operation, which targeted a gang using the Guadiana River to move drugs between the two countries.

Officers seized 265 bales of hashish weighing a combined 10,600kg, along with nine vehicles and three firearms, including an assault rifle that police said was loaded and ready to use.

Footage released by the Guardia Civil on Thursday shows huge stacks of hashish bales recovered during the raids, as well as firearms and ammunition seized by investigators.

The investigation, codenamed Operation Tridente, centred on two properties being used as stash houses (guarderias) where enormous quantities of drugs were stored before being distributed elsewhere.

First raid in Huelva

The first major breakthrough came during the early hours of August 20, when investigators located a suspected drug stash house at a property in Ayamonte, Huelva, just across the Guadiana from Portugal.

Guardia Civil officers moved in and surprised three members of the organisation inside.

They discovered 132 bales of hashish weighing 5.28 tonnes.

Six vehicles were also seized, five of which had been stolen and modified so they could be used to transport drugs, police said.

Officers additionally recovered a handgun and an assault rifle, both of which were loaded and ready to be used, according to Spain’s Interior Ministry.

The three suspects were arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking, illegal weapons possession, vehicle theft and document forgery.

All three have since been remanded in custody.

Suspects flee by boat

Just two days later, on August 22, Spanish and Portuguese officers launched another surveillance operation at a property on the Portuguese side of the Guadiana.

The building was located in a strategically important position on the river separating the two countries.

Investigators uncovered another stash house containing 133 bales of hashish weighing 5,320kg, as well as three vehicles and another handgun.

However, the alleged gang members inside initially managed to escape aboard a boat.

A major pursuit involving air, sea and land units from both the Guardia Civil and GNR was launched.

Officers eventually intercepted the vessel and arrested all seven people aboard.

They were placed before Portuguese judicial authorities on August 24 and subsequently remanded in custody.

The two raids brought the final haul to 10.6 tonnes of hashish, 10 arrests, nine vehicles and three firearms.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.