The Spanish Tax Agency, in collaboration with the Civil Guard, has dismantled several criminal organizations involved in drug trafficking in the Strait of Gibraltar. A total of 44 individuals were arrested during a large-scale operation conducted last week in the areas of La Línea de la Concepción, Cádiz, and Huelva, particularly focusing on the Campo de Gibraltar and the border region with Portugal near the Guadiana River.
### Major Operation
The operation was divided into four phases, enabling precise and effective interventions, according to a statement from the Tax Agency. It resulted in the seizure of 42,000 liters of fuel, 30 boats, 4,800 kilograms of hashish, and 110,000 euros in cash, alongside the arrest of 44 people involved in drug trafficking activities.
### Monitoring of Support Vessels
A key focus of the operation was monitoring vessels that violated maritime regulations and were used as logistical support for drug trafficking, particularly in supplying fuel to speedboats. In Cádiz Bay, 13 boats were confiscated, while an additional 16 boats were seized off the coast of Huelva.
In Cádiz, operations targeted beaches in La Linea, Tarifa, Chiclana de la Frontera, Conil de la Frontera, Sanlúcar de Barrameda, and San Pedro, resulting in the arrest of nine individuals and the seizure of 937 fuel containers. In Huelva, in areas such as Punta Umbría, Isla Cristina, La Antilla, and El Rompido, six arrests were made and 756 fuel containers containing over 42,000 liters of gasoline were confiscated.
### Interception of Fishing Boats
The operation also aimed to control the transfer of drugs from sea to land. In one instance, a fishing boat was intercepted in the port of Huelva containing 70 bales of hashish hidden in a compartment, leading to the arrest of five crew members.
In another intervention, customs officials, together with the Civil Guard, discovered a fishing boat equipped with a specially designed double bottom for concealing drugs. A thorough search revealed 52 bales of hashish within this double bottom, resulting in the arrest of four crew members.
### Dismantling Retail Drug Sales
Some of the drugs entering the country through these channels are used for retail sales, facilitating distribution to multiple points and avoiding large-scale storage. This activity has raised significant social concerns due to the increased presence of addicts in residential areas.
In this context, two operations targeting retail drug trade were executed in Isla Cristina (Huelva). These operations included a service known as “telecoca,” where drugs were delivered to homes after receiving orders via phone or messages. Various modes of transport, including cars, motorcycles, and even electric bicycles, were used to cover the surrounding area.
In the first operation, seven searches were conducted, resulting in the arrest of 15 individuals (including two minors), the seizure of 70,000 euros in cash, and several ready-to-sell doses. In the second operation, six searches led to the arrest of five individuals, the confiscation of 45,000 euros in cash, and over 15 kilograms of hashish.
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