NARCO-TRAFFICKERS have stolen three Spanish navy boats left unguarded during a military exercise off the coast of Cadiz.
When the theft occurred on 18 May, the Spanish Navy was conducting its annual week-long Flotex26 training exercise in Cadiz.
During one exercise three semi-rigid inflatable boats, each nearly five metres long and powered by 25-horsepower motors, transported a group of marines to the Retin beach near Barbate.
Under military protocol, the boats should either be buried in the sand or carefully camouflaged once ashore.
In this case, the crews opted to conceal them, but apparently not thoroughly enough.
When the marines returned to the beach, they discovered the three boats had vanished along with all the equipment on board.
Among the missing items were 11 dry suits, each worth around €1,800, as well as tracking devices and other military gear.
Videos later circulated online appearing to show one of the stolen vessels being used by suspected drug traffickers to supply fuel to narcolanchas in the Strait of Gibraltar.
This suggested the boats had fallen into the hands of criminal gangs operating increasingly openly in the waters off the Costa de la Luz.
The boats and stolen equipment, along with jerrycans filled with fuel, were recovered on 24 May near the Barbate sports centre by Guardia Civil officers.Â
Officers searched the surrounding area, but were unable to track down the perpetrators.
They continue to investigate the circumstances of the robbery and are yet to confirm whether they believe that drug-traffickers are responsible.
However a spokesperson for the AUGC, the union which represents Cadiz’s Guardia Civil officers, has hinted that he believes narcos are responsible saying, ‘drug smuggling has always taken place’ in Barbate.
The AUGC also shared footage allegedly showing the stolen vessel being used by suspected narcos.
The union criticised what it described as the ‘arrogance and showboating’ of drug traffickers as well as the ‘lack of resources’ available to Spanish authorities in the fight against organised crime.
The incident marks an embarrassing episode for Spain’s navy and comes amid growing concern over a series of violent incidents linked to drug trafficking in Spanish waters.
On 8 May, two officers, named German Perez and Jeronimo Jimenez, were chasing a drug-laden speedboat off the coast of Huelva when two Guardia Civil vessels collided.
A week later, In the early hours of Friday 15 May, a narco speedboat rammed a customs vessel off the coast of Almeria.
Although no officers were injured, the customs vessel sustained damage and the suspected drug traffickers fled the scene.
The incidents have highlighted the growing dangers faced by Spanish authorities combating drug trafficking, fuelling outrage over what officers describe as a lack of resources, manpower and protection.
While no navy officers were injured in the Barbate incident, it has highlighted the growing audacity of drug traffickers, who appear increasingly confident operating with impunity – even to the extent of stealing navy vessels.
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