Spanish military officials have been left red-faced after drug traffickers stole three Navy boats during major military exercises near the Strait of Gibraltar.
The incident took place earlier this week during the Spanish Navy’s annual advanced training operations, known as Flotex26, which were being carried out off the coast of Barbate and in waters around the Strait of Gibraltar, the Gulf of Cadiz and the Alboran Sea.
One exercise involved several groups of Spanish marines landing on El Retin beach, a stretch of coastline between Barbate and Zahara de los Atunes in Cadiz.
According to reports, the marines arrived using three semi-rigid military boats measuring around five metres long and powered by 25-horsepower outboard engines.
Protocol reportedly required the boats to be hidden or camouflaged once ashore.
However, when the marines later returned to the beach, they discovered the vessels had vanished.
The boats are believed to have been stolen by ‘petaqueros’ – fuel smugglers who supply high-powered narco boats operating in the Strait.
Even more alarming for military officials was the equipment allegedly taken with the vessels, including 11 specialist dry suits reportedly worth around €1,800 each, along with tracking equipment and other gear.
The SUP police union fumed: ‘This is not audacity. It is impunity.
‘The SUP demands a forceful response: more resources and more Navy presence in the Strait.’
According to Spanish reports, the incident has caused major embarrassment within the Spanish Navy, particularly as the theft occurred during active military exercises.
The theft was immediately reported to the Guardia Civil in Barbate, which is now attempting to trace the missing boats.
Some reports claim at least one of the stolen vessels may already have been spotted in videos transporting fuel to narco speedboats operating in the Strait of Gibraltar.
The incident highlights the growing boldness of drug trafficking gangs operating along Spain’s southern coastline, where narco networks have increasingly been accused of acting with near-total impunity.
The Campo de Gibraltar area in particular has become notorious for violent clashes, high-speed chases and attacks linked to drug trafficking operations in recent years.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
