Andalusia officials demand reinstatement of OCON-Sur drug trafficking unit

The regional government of Andalusia is calling for the reinstatement of OCON-Sur, a specialized Guardia Civil elite unit dedicated to combating drug trafficking, which was disbanded four years ago. President Juanma Moreno has formally requested that the central Spanish government reactivate the unit, citing the increasing violence and activity of criminal networks across the region, including the coasts of Huelva, Cadiz, and Almeria.

Regional officials, including José Antonio Nieto and Rocío Díaz, have criticized the previous decision to dissolve the unit as a “pessima decision,” arguing it has left society vulnerable to organized crime. The push for increased security is gaining traction at higher levels, with the European People’s Party (EPP) requesting that the European Parliament’s Petitions Committee examine the impact of drug trafficking and the use of high-speed smuggling boats on the Andalusian coast.

The demand has sparked political friction. The PSOE has criticized Moreno, accusing him of using the drug crisis to create a “front of confrontation” with the central government and suggesting the regional administration should address internal corruption issues before lecturing on crime. Meanwhile, the central government's representative in Andalusia has defended current security protocols, describing the regional government's stance as showing “ignorance and contempt” for existing state security efforts.