Guardia Civil shot during Huelva drug seizure; suspect released pending charges

During an anti‑drug operation in the ría of Punta Umbría, Huelva, the Guardia Civil's EDOA unit intercepted a shipment of 56 bales containing roughly 1,120 kg of hash. When agents attempted to stop the unload, traffickers opened fire with long‑range weapons, striking a van but causing no injuries to the officers. The criminals fled on foot; one detained individual, a Spanish national of foreign origin, was later released with charges while the remaining suspects remain at large. Police also recovered a short firearm, ammunition and shell casings.

The episode reignites criticism over the limited resources of the Huelva anti‑drug team, which has about half the specialised personnel of neighboring provinces. The Guardia Civil and the Justicia para la Guardia Civil association argue that the 2018 decree banning "narcolanchas" has not curbed trafficking, which now spreads across Andalusia. Officials are calling for the designation of special security zones, reinforcement of personnel and the deployment of mobile barriers on the Guadalquivir to better combat the expanding drug trade.