This is the problem for the Guardia Civil concerning the high-speed RIBs used for transporting drugs, people, as well as being used as floating gasolineras.

On the subject of drug running, you would be wrong to think that it is one-way traffic, because although what is coming over from North Africa is principally hashish, these craft also carry synthetic drugs from Europe on the return journey.

The Guardia Civil don’t have enough personnel nor do they have anything that can catch these RIBs with their four outboards giving a combined, horsepower output of over 500.

Another problem are the laws, or better said, the retribution for breaking the law. You get a lighter sentence for human trafficking that you do for drug trafficking, and the sort of sentence that you can get for skippering a milkcow (refuelling RIB) is ridiculously mild by comparison.

However, the Achilles Heel of all of these drug operations is fuel because these RIBs are ridiculously thirsty when it comes to fuel consumption. But with inadequate deterence, these RIB skippers can afford to laugh at the efforts of the Guardia Civil.

For this reason, the spokesperson for the Unified Association of Civil Guards (AUGC), Victor Vega, warns that the problem is a 3-fold one.

“The craft trafficking people have also been used to transport drug packages and fuel canisters. In other words, it’s a triple problem: drug trafficking, irregular immigration, and logistical supply,” he said, adding, “They consume an enormous amount of fuel, so the weakest link is the petaquero (refueller).

However, the light sentencing for running fuel is about to change with the inclusion of petaqueo (fuel supplying for narco-boats) in the law against repeat offenders.

He concluded with, “We cannot allow what is happening. They move with impunity, they taunt the Servi cio Marítimo, which lacks resources, and they are becoming increasingly violent,” he emphasised.

“From our Guardia Civil union, we are demanding a specific law against petaqueo, more materiel resources, and more personnel,” the spokesperson concluded.

(News: Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)

Keywords: Police Resources, Guardia Civil, Police Union, Drug Runners, RIBs, Refuellers, Law, Insufficient Retribution

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