Spain's Guardia Civil turns traffic stops into criminal probes

A motorcyclist who fled a traffic stop on the A‑7053 near Mijas and Alhaurín el Grande rammed a Guardia Civil officer with his Yamaha bike, injuring the officer's hand and shoulder. The rider was arrested and faces charges including assault on a law‑enforcement officer, reckless driving and fleeing the scene.

In a separate incident on the A‑7 motorway near Puerto Lumbreras, traffic officers stopped a vehicle with expired inspection papers and visible damage. A search revealed 348 g of cocaine concealed under the rear seat. The driver was arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking, an offence that can carry three to six years' imprisonment and a heavy fine. Both cases illustrate how routine traffic violations in Spain can quickly evolve into serious criminal investigations by the Guardia Civil.