A Spanish criminal organization dedicated to providing logistical support to drug-running boats

The Spanish Civil Guard has arrested 44 people for crimes including membership in a criminal organization, drug trafficking, smuggling, and offenses against public safety. More than 16,000 liters of fuel intended for the logistical support of drug-running boats have been seized.

The increase in the arrival of drug-running boats to the Carreras estuary area of ​​Isla Cristina (Huelva) to refuel the high-speed vessels that bring hashish and marijuana into the southern coast of the peninsula gave rise to Operation “Amphora”.

The organization used garages located under apartment blocks to store the fuel, which was a risk to the people who lived in these homes.

They refueled the flasks at service stations and transported them in private vehicles to the nurseries, where once stored, they waited to be loaded into vans to take them to the boats.

The criminals fled at high speed upon seeing the officers, sometimes even ramming police vehicles. On other occasions, they abandoned their loaded vans, creating a risk of explosion.

The operation culminated in 17 raids in the Andalusian provinces of Huelva, Cádiz, and Seville, and in Ceuta. Authorities seized 16,250 liters of gasoline, two handguns, two rifles, seven vehicles, four boats, €20,000, various doses of narcotics, as well as computer, electronic, and nautical equipment.

Also, 35 bank accounts and cryptocurrencies have been blocked, and 101 vehicles, 24 properties and twelve boats have been seized, all related to the profits obtained from illicit activities.