€1 Million Speedboat Stolen from Puerto Soller Sparks Dramatic Sea Chase
Updated: Aug 26
A 52-year-old man has been arrested after allegedly stealing a luxury speedboat worth more than €1 million from Puerto Soller and attempting to ram Guardia Civil vessels during a dramatic pursuit through the waters of the Balearic Islands.
The incident began on Sunday morning when Spain’s 112 emergency service alerted authorities to the theft of a charter company’s high-value speedboat. Investigators worked with the company to track the vessel after it left Mallorca with a man and a woman on board.
Guardia Civil Launch Sea Pursuit
The Guardia Civil responded by deploying two Maritime Service boats and a helicopter to locate the stolen vessel and intercept those on board.
The pursuit eventually moved towards Tagomago, an island off the coast of Ibiza. Officers repeatedly ordered the driver to stop and switch off the engines, but the instructions were allegedly ignored as the speedboat continued attempting to escape.
With the helicopter tracking the vessel from above, maritime officers maintained the pursuit across the Balearic waters.
Alleged Attempts to Ram Police Boats
During the chase, which lasted around 30 minutes, the driver allegedly carried out several manoeuvres aimed at colliding with the Guardia Civil vessels.
Officers were forced to keep their distance while continuing to monitor the speedboat from both the air and sea. Despite repeated attempts to bring the vessel to a halt, the suspect allegedly continued trying to evade capture.
The pursuit eventually came to an end when officers successfully intercepted the speedboat.
Suspect Arrested
The 52-year-old man was arrested after the vessel was stopped. A woman who had been travelling with him was also on board when officers intercepted the boat.
The man is accused of theft, resisting authority and assaulting law enforcement officers. The investigation remains ongoing as authorities examine the circumstances surrounding the original theft and the events that unfolded during the sea pursuit.
The case is expected to proceed through the Spanish courts.
High-Value Theft Raises Maritime Security Concerns
The incident highlights the challenges faced by maritime law enforcement when attempting to stop high-powered vessels at sea.
The stolen speedboat, valued at more than €1 million, had reportedly been taken from a charter company in Puerto Soller before being tracked across the Balearic Islands.
Investigators will now work to establish the full circumstances of the theft and determine exactly what happened during the pursuit. The arrested man could face several charges under Spanish law as the investigation continues.
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