Civilian Guardia officers carry the coffin of their colleague David Pérez Carracedo in Pamplona, northern Spain.
Two police officers have been killed and eight arrested in Spain during a boat chase with suspected drug traffickers.
Miguel Angel Gomez Gonzalez, 39, and David Perez Carracedo, 43, were killed when a speedboat crashed into a small police boat.
Two other officers were injured, one seriously.
The incident occurred on Friday night at the southern port of Barbate, near Cadiz.
According to Spanish daily El Pais, Barbate’s mayor, Miguel Molina, contacted the private security forces to offer assistance after residents evacuating from the storm spotted six “drug boats” in Barbate’s port. I asked for it.
A deadly boat chase occurred later that night. In videos shared on social media, people on the shore could be heard cheering on the traffickers as the speedboat collided with a police boat.
The incident has shaken local communities and led to calls for more powers for police to fight drug traffickers.
According to local media, the eight people arrested include known drug dealers and money launderers. As they were led into court on Monday morning, onlookers shouted abuse at them, calling them “murderers” and “rotting in prison.”
More than 1,000 people attended the agent’s funeral on Sunday.
Spain’s Guardia Civilian Association (AUGC) said in a statement that it had long called for a “realistic plan” to provide police officers with better means and resources to fight drug traffickers, adding that Spain’s Fernando Grande He called for the resignation of the interior minister. Marlaska.
Grande Marlasca said the deaths of the two police officers amounted to “assassinations” and promised “zero impunity” in efforts to stop drug trafficking.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said in a post on X (formerly Twitter) that he “deeply regrets” the deaths and paid tribute to the “great work” of security forces in the fight against human trafficking.
Cadiz and the surrounding area are known as important entry points for drug smugglers. In particular, the nearby 15km (9 mile) wide Strait of Gibraltar, which separates Europe from Africa, is a favorite route for drug smugglers.