Juan Ignacio Zoido announces policing reinforcement of over 150 officers to combat drug trafficking in Campo de Gibraltar

The Minister for Home Affairs, Juan Ignacio Zoido, held a coordination meeting on Thursday morning at the Local Spanish National Police Force Headquarters in La Línea de la Concepción (Cadiz) with the leaders of the State law enforcement agencies.

At the meeting, Juan Ignacio Zoido was accompanied by the Central Government Representative in Andalusia, Antonio Sanz; the Deputy Central Government Representative in Cadiz, Agustín Muñoz; the Senior Head of Western Andalusia, José Antonio de la Rosa; and the General of Zone IV of the Spanish Guardia Civil, Manuel Contreras, among other police chiefs from the area.

To the attending officers, the Minister for Home Affairs expressed "our full support and gratitude for the service you provide in this province to protect others and fight drug trafficking under complicated conditions". Furthermore, he said that, in response to the attacks suffered by some officers from the Spanish National Police Force, the Spanish Guardia Civil and the Local Police when trying to prevent the landing of drug shipments, the Ministry of Home Affairs has taken measures to strengthen their safety.

According to Juan Ignacio Zoido, drug trafficking gangs are increasingly more specialised, have better resources and are increasingly more aggressive and dangerous. For that reason, the Minister for Home Affairs made two announcements. On the one hand, that the number of rapid response units and prevention and reaction officers has been increased; and, on the other hand, certain material resources have been brought in to improve the fight against drug trafficking and, above all, to increase the safety of the officers themselves so they do not suffer further attacks.

Police reinforcements

The Minister for Home Affairs explained that a total reinforcement of over 150 officers from the Spanish National Police Force and the Spanish Guardia Civil is planned to combat drug trafficking, Operation Summer and Operation Crossing the Strait.

The police reinforcements comprise 40 officers from the GAR (Rapid Response Group) to fight drug trafficking; 20 rapid response officers from the Spanish Guardia Civil as part of the Action Plan against drug trafficking and smuggling; 30 officers from the Spanish Guardia Civil on work placements who have recently joined the force; 12 officers from the UIP (Police Intervention Unit) of the Spanish National Police Force; 17 officers on work placements who will join the Spanish National Police Force Headquarters at the end of this month; 30 officers from the Spanish Guardia Civil who have joined for Operation Crossing the Strait (from 15 June to 15 September); and five officers from the Spanish Guardia Civil who have joined for Operation Summer (from July to September).

In total, the Minister for Home Affairs stressed that 154 extra officers from the Spanish National Police Force and Spanish Guardia Civil will cover the needs of this service during the summer months. Furthermore, he highlighted that the two forces have approved measures to increase extraordinary operations to strengthen services and meet requirements during the summer period.

In his speech, Juan Ignacio Zoido said that, during the first half of 2017, almost 1,100 operations have been carried out against drug trafficking in La Línea de la Concepción and Algeciras, thanks to which 13,300 kilos of narcotics have been seized and major national and international drug trafficking gangs have been dismantled, some of which had been operating in Campo de Gibraltar for 15 years.

Against this backdrop, he also stressed that efforts are being made to increase coordination and this "is allowing us to act in a more organised and therefore effective manner". For this reason, he explained that coordination meetings between the Spanish Guardia Civil and the Spanish National Police Force are held every fortnight, at which a series of coordinated services are established.

Furthermore, the Minister for Home Affairs mentioned the meetings of the Technical Security Council held every week at La Línea Town Council to adopt coordination measures and assess the results obtained during the previous week. These meetings are attended by the Deputy Central Government Representative in Cadiz, as well as representatives from the Spanish Guardia Civil, the Assistant Directorate of Customs Enforcement, the Spanish National Police Force, the Local Police and the La Línea Town Council.

Finally, Juan Ignacio Zoido said that "my ministerial department intends to keep fighting drug trafficking and is also firmly committed to continue adopting whatever measures may be necessary to protect and defend those who protect and defend us; the members of the State law enforcement agencies who risk their physical well-being and lives".

"We know that unfortunately their work is often tough and demanding, but we want them to know that we are always by their side, and not only with our thoughts and moral support but also with permanent and effective help so that they can have more human and material resources to deal with drug traffickers. They will never be alone because we are with them, with words and deeds", he concluded.