MOSCOW, June 9 (RIA Novosti) - Fifteen Russian sailors arrested in southwest Spain in a narcotics sting operation last month have been charged with smuggling and crimes threatening the health of Spanish citizens, the Russian Foreign Ministry said.

The sailors were detained on May 14 near the city of Huelva on southwest Spain's Atlantic coast in a large-scale police operation, after around four metric tons of marijuana was seized from their two vessels, both of which belonged to a Russian company.

"The sailors were detained by police when they were traveling in a private minibus to a foreign vessel, which docked outside the port where the drugs were seized," Andrei Nesterenko said.

Representatives of the Russian Embassy in Madrid said the suspects are being held in 'normal' conditions, and that no procedural violations in their arrest have been observed.

The Russian Foreign Ministry is maintaining close contact with the captains of the crew and the Spanish authorities, Nesterenko said.