The provincial law courts in Málaga have found eight people guilty of drug running, amongst them three Guardia Civil officers based in Motril.
The judge considers it proven that the drugs ring smuggled narcotics from Morocco to the Iberian Penisular.
The Servicio de Asuntos Internos (SAI) belonging to the Guardia Civil opened an investigation after suspecting corruption amongst the ranks of the Guardia Civil in Motril; they first centred their attention on one officer, which led them to the other two.
These officers provided inside information on anti-narcotic operations; when and where patrols would appear, etc; thus making landing operations safe from discovery.
They even provided advice on how to dodge the coastal, radar-detection system, the Sistema Integral de Vigilancia Exterior (SIVE).
The said officers had been posted to the Servicio Marítimo Provincial de Granada, operating out of Motril Port, so they were in a prime position to offer inside information in exchange for money.
The three officers were found guilty of belonging to a criminal organisation and corruption for which one of them received a 27-month prison sentence and the other two 39-month prison terms. They will be banned from holding any public employment for the space of 15 years.
Editorial comment: they should be banned for life as police officers should be held to greater account.
(News: Motril, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)