A huge cache of drugs and military-grade weapons have been seized during a major narcotics operation that used the Guadalete river to smuggle hashish into Cadiz province under the cover of darkness.
Officers discovered 1.6 tonnes of hashish packed into 40 bales alongside an arsenal that included assault rifles, ammunition and hand grenades during the operation in Jerez.
The haul was uncovered after National Police detected a boat navigating the Guadalete river during the early hours of April 28.
Investigators immediately launched a covert surveillance operation after suspecting the vessel was involved in a large-scale drug delivery.
According to police, the drugs were transferred from the boat into two stolen SUVs, which were escorted by a third high-end vehicle before heading towards the MOPU neighbourhood of Jerez.
Authorities say the organisation had set up an extensive counter-surveillance network, positioning spotters around access roads to warn of police presence.
The sophisticated operation forced officers to constantly change positions in order to avoid detection while continuing to track the convoy.
Local Police assisted National Police by sealing off the area during the operation.
However, the traffickers eventually realised they were being watched while beginning to unload the shipment and fled the scene after blocking vehicles to delay officers.
Police managed to seize the entire consignment before it could be hidden inside an apartment block.
The final haul included 1,600 kilos of hashish, four AK-47 assault rifles, a CETME rifle – the former standard military rifle used by the Spanish army – 14 magazines, a rotary machine-gun magazine, ammunition of various calibres, police-style emergency lights, a bulletproof vest and three vehicles.
But officers say the most alarming discovery came later during a search of a storage room allegedly used by the gang.
Inside, investigators found four hand grenades designed to inflict mass casualties in enclosed spaces.
Police said the devices contained around 3,000 steel ball bearings and had an effective lethal radius of up to 54 metres.
The grenades could reportedly be activated within three seconds and were designed to function even in extreme conditions including water, snow and mud.
The operation is being described locally as one of the most significant narco seizures in recent months and comes amid growing concern over the increasing militarisation of drug trafficking groups operating around the Strait of Gibraltar.
The investigation continues.
