Dramatic footage shows speedboat ‘thief’ ram €1m vehicle into coastguard off Ibiza

Dramatic footage shows the moment a man aggressively rammed into a coastguard vessel using a speedboat he allegedly stole during a high-speed chase off the coast of Ibiza. The operation unfolded after a charter firm in Port de Sóller alerted police that one of its flagship vessels worth £855,000 had disappeared from the harbour on Sunday. Using onboard tracking technology, the company traced the missing vessel south toward Tagomago, a small islet off Ibiza’s northeastern coast.

Aerial footage released by the Guardia Civil shows the 52-year-old driver steering recklessly, swerving multiple times and ignoring all direct orders to pull over. The video shows the suspect cutting through high waves at full throttle, using the heavy power of the stolen craft to ram his vessel straight into Ibiza’s coastguard patrol. In response, the Spanish Civil Guard immediately ordered a surveillance helicopter and two coastal patrol boats to intercept the target.

For nearly 30 minutes, the skipper refused to yield, forcing police vessels into tactical evasive manoeuvres as he repeatedly tried to cut them off. The stand-off ended abruptly when the driver finally cut the engines, which allowed armed officers to board the vessel and secure the perimeter. Authorities have arrested the driver on charges including boat theft, assaulting an officer, and resisting arrest.

Officers also found a woman aboard the craft. Spanish police have not yet clarified her status or role in the incident. The investigation into how the vessel was initially stolen from the resort town is ongoing.

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