Guardia Civil arrests five in fuel transfer to narco‑speedboat off Barbate

On the morning of 17 June 2026, the Guardia Civil detected a high‑speed vessel linked to drug trafficking operating near the Trafalgar lighthouse off the coast of Barbate. A patrol boat tracked a recreational craft that approached the vessel to refuel – a practice known locally as “petaqueo”. After the fueling was completed, the recreational boat headed for the Hierbabuena beach where four occupants attempted to flee on foot while the captain continued sailing. Police intercepted the four on the beach and later apprehended the captain at sea, seizing the recreational vessel as evidence.

All five suspects were arrested and charged with the reckless acquisition, transport or storage of liquid fuel, and the four who disembarked face additional charges of serious resistance and disobedience. The operation is part of the Guardia Civil’s wider strategy to disrupt the logistical support networks that sustain “narcolanchas” in the Strait of Gibraltar, a key maritime route for narcotics smuggling into Spain.