A man from Elche is among the Guardia Civil officers injured following a collision between two official vessels off the coast of Huelva on Friday. The incident occurred during a high-speed pursuit of a “narco-boat” used by drug traffickers and has resulted in the tragic deaths of two officers, whilst another remains seriously injured.
The officer from Elche is 38 years old and a resident of the Perleta district. Although he was stationed in Huelva at the time of the accident, his wife and daughter still reside in the local area. Reports from national agencies and official sources indicate that he sustained minor injuries during the maritime anti-drug operation.
The fatal collision took place approximately 80 nautical miles off the Huelva coast. It occurred whilst the Guardia Civil Maritime Service was performing operational manoeuvres to intercept a high-velocity craft. The officer from Perleta is a member of this specialised unit, having completed specific training for maritime interventions and the fight against drug trafficking at sea.
The two officers who lost their lives were also members of the Maritime Service. One was a highly experienced officer with over thirty years in the specialty, and the other was a captain who had been stationed in Huelva since 2020.
In the wake of the tragedy, several professional associations representing the Guardia Civil have called for increased resources and better equipment to handle these dangerous offshore operations against organised crime.