A GROUP of Guardia Civil generals is requesting grenade launchers to combat drug traffickers across the Strait of Gibraltar, an investigation has revealed.
In a series of emails seen by El Mundo, the generals called on Spain’s Ministry of the Interior to authorise the use of 50 launchers currently stored in Guardia Civil warehouses.
The emails stated the weapons ‘could be useful for immobilising or disabling the engines of drug-smuggling boats,’ stressing that they were ‘non-lethal.’
The request comes amid a surge in activity by emboldened drug traffickers off the coasts of Cadiz and Huelva in recent years, with the latest reports indicating up to 30 sightings per day.
Calls to increase police funding along Andalucia’s coastline have turned into desperate pleas after four Guardia Civil officers died while pursuing traffickers over the past two years.
In the most recent tragedy, two officers died in a boat collision while chasing narco speedboats off Huelva in May.
Socialist PSOE’s secretary general for Andalucia, Maria Jesus Montero, came under fire at the time after controversially describing the deaths as a ‘workplace accident.’
The comment drew widespread criticism from the Guardia Civil union AUGC, which took to X (formerly Twitter) shortly after Montero’s remarks to voice its outrage.
“Workplace accident, Mrs Montero?” AUGC said.
“The pattern is always the same: organised violence, insufficient resources, and the State looking the other way.”
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