A Troubled Past, a Political Present: The Yacht Alma and Mediterranean Activism

The yacht Alma, currently part of the Global Sumud Flotilla, has a documented history of involvement in drug trafficking. In August 2018, when operating under the name HCH-X and registered under the Gibraltar flag, the vessel was intercepted by Spanish authorities between Mallorca and Ibiza with approximately 300 kilograms of cocaine on board, leading to the arrest of five crew members. Following its seizure and subsequent sale, the yacht was incorporated into the flotilla initiative aimed at reaching Gaza. Credible reports confirm that Alma is among the boats on which Greta Thunberg and Ada Colau have taken part. While some partisan outlets have circulated additional allegations regarding the vessel’s past, mainstream coverage substantiates only its role in narcotics smuggling and later repurposing for humanitarian activism.