Guardia Civil seizes 12,000 litres of fuel in anti-drugs operations in Huelva and Murcia
Four arrests and several vessels seized in operations against fuel supply to drug smuggling boats on the coasts of Huelva and Murcia.
Operations against fuel trafficking on the coasts of Huelva and Murcia
The Guardia Civil has seized approximately 12,000 litres of fuel destined for supplying vessels linked to drug trafficking in the provinces of Huelva and Murcia. According to ABC, the operations resulted in four arrests and the seizure of several vessels.
The Armed Institute detailed in a press release that, on the Huelva coast, 347 fuel jerrycans were seized—equivalent to 8,675 litres—distributed across three separate operations. Two people were arrested and five vessels related to the transport of petrol for drug smuggling boats were taken out of service.
Three seizures in Huelva
In the early hours of last Saturday, the Integrated Exterior Surveillance System detected a vessel on the Huelva coast. Following its tracking to land, Guardia Civil officers surprised the crew during an exchange of personnel and supplies. Two people were arrested for an offence against collective security and brought before Investigating Court number 1 in Moguer.
In Isla Cristina, officers seized 38 additional jerrycans from inside a recreational vessel. The crew abandoned the boat and fled before the arrival of officers.
At the Mazagón dock, the Maritime Service of the Guardia Civil in Huelva apprehended 130 jerrycans from inside a semi-rigid vessel that was grounded. In the course of the operations in Huelva, five small pateras also related to fuel trafficking were seized.
Chase and collision in Murcia
Near El Gorguel beach in Murcia, surveillance systems detected a vessel navigating at high speed towards international waters. The Maritime Service of the Guardia Civil went to the location to verify the situation of the vessel and its crew.
Officers located a semi-rigid speedboat of approximately 13 metres in length equipped with three high-powered outboard motors. When officers began manoeuvres to approach and stop them, the occupants fled and collided with a fish farm cage in the area, where the vessel finally ran aground.
Two of the three crew members jumped into the sea to attempt to escape by swimming. One was rescued by the Guardia Civil and taken for medical assistance after presenting symptoms of hypothermia. The other could not be located despite the search operation deployed with support from Maritime Rescue.
In total, in Murcia 136 containers with 3,400 litres of petrol were seized. The two arrested crew members were brought before the courts on charges of smuggling, an offence against collective security, and the transport and storage of explosive substances.
Source: ABC