High-speed inflatable boats become prohibited goods under smuggling law

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1. High-speed rigid inflatable and semi-rigid boats are considered prohibited goods under the anti-smuggling law. This allows seizing them even on land and even when they carry no illegal cargo.
2. Other boats are also considered prohibited goods when there are reasonable signs they will be used for smuggling. Examples include sailing without required lights, using camouflage, or ignoring orders to stop from State vessels.
3. Boats used for national defense, law enforcement, and other legitimate uses such as sea rescue, sports, research, or private recreation are excluded from the ban. Some of these uses require registering and obtaining an authorization.
4. A Special Register of Operators of High-Speed Inflatable and Semi-Rigid Boats is created, unique for the whole country and managed by the Tax Agency. Registration and authorization procedures are handled electronically.
5. If the conditions of the authorization are breached, the boat is again considered prohibited goods. The authorization may set a geographic area of use and require installing tracking devices.
6. Those who already operated these boats when the rule took effect have six months to register and request authorization for their boats.

Who it affects

• Owners and operators of high-speed inflatable or semi-rigid boats: They must register and obtain authorization for permitted uses, or their boats can be seized.
• Organizations using these boats for smuggling or human trafficking: Authorities can seize the boats even on land and without illegal cargo, and open sanctioning proceedings.
• The Customs Surveillance Service and law enforcement bodies: They get a legal framework to act more quickly against these boats.
• Operators of rescue, sports, business, or private recreation boats: They are exempt from the ban if they register and obtain the required authorization.

Words worth knowing

Género prohibido (prohibited goods)

A category under the anti-smuggling law that allows seizing an item and sanctioning its manufacture, possession, transport, or trade.

Eslora (length overall)

The length of the boat, measured from bow to stern.

Buque de porte menor (small vessel)

A vessel of less than 150 net register tons, a measure of its capacity.

Alijo (clandestine landing)

The secret unloading of illegal goods, usually on a beach or the coast.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries