Eight Ukrainian seafarers have been arrested after Spanish customs officials found drugs on their general cargoship.

The country's tax agency said the 1,600-dwt Moldovan-flagged Elg (built 1983) was intercepted on Monday carrying 10 tons of hashish, 98 miles south of Cartagena.

Aerial surveillance had detected the ship with several semi-rigid boats around it and agents moved in on three patrol boats based in Cartagena and Palma de Mallorca.