The incident, which has drawn strong condemnation from the Unified Association of Civil Guards (AUGC), highlights the increasing violence of criminal organizations operating on the Andalusian coast. The AUGC had previously warned about the growing danger in these operations.

According to the Civil Guard, the events occurred as the suspects were preparing to unload drugs from a semi-rigid boat. Upon being located by officers, the traffickers opened fire with long weapons. The Civil Guard officers responded to the attack, remaining unharmed, although shell casings and projectiles were recovered from the scene.

The operation began when a suspicious vessel was detected navigating near Punta Umbría. A land and sea operation was deployed to intercept the smuggling. Officers located a van and a car that were to be loaded with the merchandise. The traffickers managed to load the drugs and flee, but were later surprised by the agents.

Following the exchange of gunfire, the individuals abandoned the vehicles and fled on foot. The Civil Guard managed to arrest one person allegedly linked to the smuggling, while the others escaped. During the operation, 56 bales of hashish, weighing approximately 1,120 kilos, were seized, and a handgun was found in one of the vehicles.

The investigation remains open to locate the fugitives, with the participation of various specialized Civil Guard units. The AUGC has reiterated its concern for the safety of officers and questioned whether the Ministry of the Interior will take action in response to this escalation of violence.

This incident underscores the expansion of drug trafficking towards the Huelva coast, as criminal groups seek alternative routes due to increased police pressure in the Campo de Gibraltar. The province of Huelva, along with the Guadalquivir and Guadiana rivers, has become a key entry point for drugs in the Iberian Peninsula's southwest.