Spanish Civil Guard Agent Arrested in Morocco
On Saturday, 20th September, Moroccan authorities apprehended a Spanish Civil Guard officer at the Beni Ansar border crossing (Nador) while attempting to smuggle nearly 30 kilograms of hashish concealed in his vehicle. The drugs were hidden in compartments of the car as the officer was trying to cross into the autonomous city of Melilla.
Official sources quoted by EFE specified that the officer was on holiday in Morocco at the time of his arrest. The Nador Prosecutor’s Office has ordered a probe to determine whether the case is linked to international drug trafficking networks.
The arrest has had a significant impact in the border area as it involves an active member of the armed forces caught with a notable amount of illicit substances. The officer remains in the custody of Moroccan authorities while judicial proceedings are underway.
Incidents in the Strait of Gibraltar
Concurrently, drug trafficking has once again come under scrutiny in the Strait of Gibraltar. In waters near Cala Arena (Algeciras), a patrol boat from the Civil Guard Maritime Service collided with a drug-laden speedboat. The impact resulted in the death of one of the boat’s crew members, although no officers were injured.
Such incidents highlight the risks faced by Civil Guard operatives, who have long been voicing concerns over the lack of resources against the sophisticated vessels used by smugglers.
The Nador incident represents a setback for the reputation of the force in its fight against hashish trafficking, which continues to be one of the primary routes for drug entry into the peninsula.
