At least one person has been killed after a drug trafficking boat collided with a Guardia Civil vessel off the coast of Cadiz.
The so-called narcolancha crashed into police near Cala Arena in Algeciras, one of Spain’s major entry points for drugs.
According to sources from the Guardia Civil, the incident occurred during a maritime surveillance operation involving the Servicio Maritimo.
The narcolancha, which was reportedly carrying a load of hashish and crewed by several people, smashed into the patrol vessel Rio Navia.
As a result of the impact, one occupant of the narco-boat died at the scene, while another sustained injuries.
Authorities have not yet confirmed how many traffickers were on board or whether arrests have been made.
A hotspot for smuggling
The Strait of Gibraltar remains one of Europe’s busiest routes for hashish trafficking from Morocco into Spain.
Narcolanchas – powerful semi-rigid speedboats – are often used to evade patrols, and confrontations with law enforcement are not uncommon.
Investigations are ongoing, with the Guardia Civil maintaining a strong presence in the area to deter further smuggling attempts.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
