Drug smugglers land at Guardamar beach
Boat is torched after five days at Playa les Ortigues
A SUSPECT has been arrested after a motorboat laden with more than two tonnes of hashish landed at a Guardamar del Segura beach.
Guardia Civil were alerted in the early hours of last Wednesday morning when the vessel was detected by the SIVE coastal radar operation.
The crew are believed to have approached Guardamar port and then turned south after fearing the presence of the security forces.
They landed at Playa les Ortigues, less than half a kilometre from the border with Torrevieja, at La Mata.
The smugglers only had time to unload part of their illicit cargo and they fled from the beach when Guardia Civil arrived. Officers were able to detain one of the suspects, who may have remained at the boat to guard the drugs.
Patrols were set up around the area but no more arrests were made.
However, officers discovered a vehicle at nearby Pinomar urbanisation which they believe was ready to transport the
hashish. The Guardia Civil then unloaded the remainder of the drug bales and the hashish was taken to safe storage.
Allegedly the motorboat, which has been based in Torrevieja harbour, was sold some time ago by its owner.
A twist in the tale
Attempts last week to tow the vessel away by the coastguard
and the Guardia Civil maritime service failed and it remained in situ.
The vessel turned into a tourist attraction over the weekend – and dozens of people who were out walking along the popular beach stopped to have their photographs taken next to it.
However, on Sunday night the boat was torched.
A Costa Blanca News reader reported seeing flames at the beach just after 23.00 and sent a message via Facebook stating that ‘it seems that the drug boat is on fire’.
The security forces are now investigating to clarify who set fire to the vessel, which may have been used as evidence in court proceedings.