Lorraine Williamson
A narcolancha fuel logistics network operating along Spain’s southern coast has been dismantled in a major Guardia Civil operation, with 44 people arrested and more than 16,000 litres of petrol seized. Investigators say the group’s job was not to move drugs directly, but to keep the high-speed boats — used to bring hashish and marijuana into Spain — supplied and ready to run.
The investigation, codenamed Operation Ánfora, began after officers detected a rise in narcolancha activity around the Ría Carreras estuary in Isla Cristina (Huelva), an area that has become a strategic refuelling point for boats operating on the southern routes.
Fuel stored under homes, a safety risk for residents
@guardia_civil
One of the most striking details in the case is where the petrol was allegedly kept.
The Guardia Civil says the network used garages beneath apartment blocks as storage sites — “guarderías” — stockpiling fuel in densely populated residential areas. Officers describe this as a serious risk for people living above large quantities of flammable material.
Investigators say suspects repeatedly filled jerrycans at petrol stations, transported them in private vehicles to the storage sites, and later moved the containers by van to supply the boats.
High-speed getaways and abandoned vans
Officers say the operation also exposed the everyday danger faced by patrols policing fuel supply lines.
According to the Guardia Civil, suspects often fled at speed when they spotted officers, and in some cases rammed official vehicles. At other times, vans loaded with fuel were allegedly abandoned, leaving an obvious explosion risk.
Seizures include weapons, boats, cash — and asset freezes
The Guardia Civil says the operation involved 17 searches across Huelva, Cádiz, Sevilla and Ceuta. Alongside 16,250 litres of petrol, officers seized firearms, boats, vehicles, cash, drugs, and equipment linked to maritime operations.
The financial footprint is also significant. Investigators say they have blocked 35 bank accounts, as well as crypto holdings, and seized or intervened 101 vehicles, 24 properties and 12 boats tied to alleged criminal proceeds.
The case is now with a court in Ayamonte — and the investigation remains open
The detainees and case files have been placed at the disposal of Investigating Court No. 3 in Ayamonte (Huelva), according to the Guardia Civil, which says the investigation remains open and further arrests are possible.
For wider context, Spanish media coverage has highlighted how fuel supply networks — often described locally as petaqueo — have become a critical part of narcolancha operations, with the risks increasingly spilling into residential areas.