The National Police of Algeciras intercepted a rented van carrying 148 fuel containers in the early hours of April 11, 2026, following a pursuit on the AP-4 highway. The vehicle, traveling at high speed with a visibly sagging chassis, raised suspicions among officers.
The driver ignored police signals to stop and attempted to flee but was immobilized shortly after. The five occupants of the vehicle then tried to escape on foot but were quickly apprehended. Inside the van, 148 25-liter containers were found, totaling approximately 3,700 liters of illegally transported gasoline.
The abnormally low suspension of the van — an unequivocal sign that it was carrying a very heavy load — triggered all alarms.
This incident is particularly significant as it occurred just one day after the entry into force of Organic Law 1/2026, dated April 8. This regulation amends the Penal Code to explicitly criminalize the possession, storage, manufacturing, trafficking, transport, or unauthorized supply of flammable substances, including liquid fuel. Penalties range from three to five years in prison.
The new law, known as the multi-offender law, aims to toughen the penal response to repeat offenders of minor property crimes and specifically criminalizes 'petaqueo'. This term refers to the massive transport and supply of fuel intended for semi-rigid boats used in drug trafficking across the Strait of Gibraltar, a common practice in the Campo de Gibraltar and the province of Cádiz.
The five detainees were brought before the Court of First Instance of Puerto Real, which ordered their provisional release pending trial. They have become one of the first cases investigated under this new criminal offense in the province.
