The Guardia Civil has dismantled a criminal network in Alhaurin el Grande accused of supplying fuel to drug-trafficking boats at sea.

Two people have been arrested in the operation on suspicion of belonging to a criminal organisation and offences against public safety.

Investigators believe the group was involved in so-called petaqueo – the practice of supplying fuel to vessels at sea, a key part of the logistics chain used by many drug-trafficking networks operating in the Strait of Gibraltar and along the Costa del Sol.

The operation centred on a property in Alhaurin el Grande that officers say was being used as a ‘guarderia‘ – a storage hub for fuel and equipment.

Armed with a court warrant, Guardia Civil officers raided the property and uncovered what they described as a significant fuel stockpile.

Among the items seized were €10,570 in cash, a notebook containing information considered important to the investigation and a large quantity of material linked to the alleged operation.

The biggest discovery was the fuel itself.

Officers found 229 jerry cans, each containing 25 litres of fuel, amounting to a total of 4,580 litres.

They also located a further 483 empty containers, bringing the total number of jerry cans found at the property to more than 700.

The practice of petaqueo has become a major focus for law enforcement agencies in southern Spain because it provides a vital lifeline for powerful narco-boats operating far from ports and marinas.

As well as facilitating organised crime, authorities warn that storing and transporting such large quantities of fuel poses a significant safety risk due to the danger of fire, explosion and environmental damage.

The investigation remains ongoing and further arrests have not been ruled out.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.