Cognitive Dissidents

I've been following this story in Diario De Cadiz for the last few days.

I find it very interesting - this is happening on my own doorstep after all - any mistakes in translation are mine - this comes from a Spanish newspaper.

According to a spokesman for the Spanish authorities today:

"The plunderers we have detained were very professional and very dangerous"

The investigators found portable computers, fragments of vases, 17th Century cannonballs and bags of musket shot that could have been used in the "Battle of Trafalgar"

The boarding party also found maps of archaeological sites and photocopies of documents from the "Archivo de Indias de Sevilla".

Worse - they also found five M16 rifles and a pistol - plus plenty of ammunition - I counted 15 clips in the picture published in the paper.

There's also a picture of what looks like a missile - I guess it's an underwater submersible of some kind - but it looks evil to anyone who doesn't know what it is.

As yet the Spanish authorities have only arrested 3 people - 2 Hungarians "SW" &: "HS' and a "North American" called "AJA" - I love the way Spanish media reports the names of suspects in initials - and are still looking for the owner of the boat - "MRA".

The reports continued:

These 21st Century pirates have their own tricks ... like double sleeved oxygen cylinders to hide the archaeological treasures they have plundered.

All for a haul that comprises of: 17th Century cannonballs, Roman anchors, the neck of a Phoenician amphora, a bag of bullets that could date from the Battle of Trafalgar - and a piece of old wood.

Right now the "Centre for Underwater Archaeology" is evaluating the finds to determine their valuation - but it's not just the valuation that matters.

Unfortunately for the illegal treasure hunters, this is not the best place in the world to try and look for treasure without being noticed.

The combination of illegal immigration and hashish smuggling from Morocco means that the Gibraltar Straits are one of the most heavily policed stretches of water in the world.

It's no surprise that the Spanish authorities have cracked down on these illegal treasure hunters - their heavily armed presence in the Straits of Gibraltar inevitably gives rise to accusations of drug and people smuggling - or worse.

The discovery of large amounts of arms and ammunition on board the "Louisa" will have done nothing to calm the fears of the Spanish authorities either.

I'm going to track this - I'd like to see how it's reported in the English speaking media as opposed to the Spanish media - there's a lot of differences between them.

Expect an update soon.

Tags: transnational crimes treasure hunters operation bahia archaeology underwater archaeology piracy spain cadizfornia