Updated

Spanish officials say police have arrested three people on suspicion of smuggling drugs into the country in broad daylight by landing speedboats on beaches that are often thronging with tourists and weekend sunbathers.

The Interior Ministry says officers seized a 234-kilogram (516-pound) stash of hashish and a speedboat.

According to Sunday's statement, the boat's two-man crew was observed unloading the consignment of drugs among beachgoers along the coast in the Mediterranean city of Malaga and was arrested. The boat's owner was arrested some time later.

The statement says an investigation began when police agents were informed by citizens that people could often be seen brazenly landing boatloads of suspicious packages on the popular beach of Piedra Paloma during weekends.