Southern Spain police face escalating drug war and lack hazard pay
Police and Civil Guard units along Andalusia's coast report a surge in armed drug-smuggling activity, while officers still do not receive the hazardous-duty bonus granted in the north.
Across the southern Spanish coastline, police and Civil Guard agents describe an "invisible war" against well-armed drug traffickers who operate speedboats, fishing vessels and even enlist local poachers to transport hashish and cocaine. Recent operations, such as a Huelva maritime patrol that faced machine-gun fire and seized six tons of hashish, illustrate the heightened danger, yet officers still miss out on the €700 monthly hazardous-duty bonus given to their northern counterparts.
Unions, including the Unified Association of Civil Guards, are pressing Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska to grant Special Singularity Zone status to the region, which would bring better pay and resources. Official figures show hashish seizures in Huelva jumped to 65,301 kg in 2025, while cocaine seizures rose to 3,307 kg locally but fell across Andalusia, indicating traffickers' shift from container ports to sea routes. Officers report personal threats, surveillance through WhatsApp groups, and the need to purchase their own protective gear, underscoring the strain on law-enforcement morale and safety.
Why it matters
The growing drug conflict threatens public safety in a popular tourist region and highlights disparities in police support.
How this story developed
- Sep 3 EU seeks clarification before expanding Frontex support for Ceuta
- Sep 5 The Commission said it cannot finish its review until Spain supplies further information.
- Sep 5 Thousands of migrant children remain homeless in Ceuta a month after the surge.
- Sep 6 Prosecutors announced a formal investigation into alleged Moroccan involvement in the Ceuta migrant influx.
- Sep 6 Sánchez spent about 105 minutes in Ceuta before departing for a vacation in Lanzarote.
- Sep 6 Ceuta announced reinforced security patrols and psychological support programs ahead of the new school year.
- Sep 7 Women and children were placed in a humanitarian hub at the Hípica and some were forced to live in makeshift mountain shelters near Ceuta.
- Sep 8 Alberto Núñez Feijóo says the government will release a trimmed version of the pre-invasion reports on Ceuta, omitting key details.
- Sep 8 The Council of Ministers scheduled a vote on declassification Tuesday, with the documents to be released to the public on Wednesday.
- Sep 9 Ceuta mayor‑president Juan Jesús Vivas publicly urged the EU to boost funding and security for the enclave’s border.
- Sep 9 The EU approved a financial package for Ceuta border controls and pledged additional Frontex support.
- Sep 10 Government criticized for declassifying security alerts and for claiming the warning was only a low‑level WhatsApp message.
- Sep 10 Judge María Tardón filed a request for copies of the declassified intelligence reports.
- Sep 10 Regional economy minister asserted that the national government possessed advance intelligence on the Ceuta crossing and did not implement preventive measures.
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