Spanish court sentences shipowner of “Simione” to 12 years for 2.9‑tonne cocaine shipment

Pablo G. F., known as “Pablo oro”, the owner of the cargo vessel Simione, was sentenced by the fifth section of the Provincial Court of Pontevedra to 12 years in prison and a €600 million fine for organising the transport of approximately 2.9 tonnes of cocaine seized in December 2022. The court found that the drug, valued at over €100 million on the illicit market, was loaded off an unidentified ship southeast of the Cape Verde islands after departing from Dakar, Senegal, following coordination in Luanda, Angola.

The judgment also imposed prison terms of between 7½ and 10 years on the three crew members, with fines ranging from €220 million to €500 million each, and a six‑year sentence with a €230 000 fine on an additional accomplice. The court dismissed challenges to the admissibility of the evidence. The verdict is subject to appeal before the Civil and Criminal Chamber of the Galician High Court.