Man arrested in Adra with 8,000 litres of petrol for drug trafficking
The Guardia Civil has arrested a man who was storing fuel in the garage of his home to supply boats used by drug traffickers. The fuel storage posed a serious fire risk.
Clandestine fuel in Adra
The Guardia Civil arrested a person in Adra (Almería) on Saturday with approximately 8,000 litres of petrol stored in the garage of a residential property. According to El Confidencial, the fuel was intended for so-called "petaqueo", a logistical support activity involving the storage, transport and supply of fuel to vessels used by drug trafficking networks.
The clandestine fuel storage posed a serious risk of fire and explosion to the detainee and neighbours of the property. The Guardia Civil highlighted the "high inflammability of the fuel and the possible accumulation of vapours" as critical danger factors. The discovery is part of active operations in Almería province aimed at dismantling these supply structures.
In the course of 2024 so far, these operations have resulted in the seizure of 141,120 litres of fuel, the impounding of 32 vessels and 20 vehicles, as well as the arrest or investigation of 55 people linked to petaqueo. The officers' work includes coastal surveillance, detection of storage points, transport control and monitoring of suspicious movements.
The operations require coordination between multiple units and are frequently carried out at night and in areas that are difficult to access. The goal is to dismantle the networks that supply criminal organisations and prevent the risks that the storage of large quantities of fuel poses to public safety and the environment.
The Guardia Civil has called for public cooperation to detect these activities. Any suspicion related to fuel storage, vessels or suspicious nocturnal activity in isolated coastal areas can be reported to 062, via www.guardiacivil.es or through the Alertcops application, even anonymously.
Source: El Confidencial