Most defendants admit involvement in drug case
In a district court session on Tuesday morning, two Civil Guards from the Burriana tax office faced potential prison time as they sat at the podium. They are accused of participating in a plan to move 2,100 kilograms of cannabis, divided into 70 bales, from Burriana port. In the opening session, they claimed only to have found and protected the boat with the drugs, denying any links to the traffickers involved.
The investigation seeks five years nine months in prison for the two Benemérita officers, accusing them of drug trafficking in a high-profile case involving a public official in the line of duty and for membership in a criminal organization. The remaining defendants, seven in total, face sentences ranging from four years nine months to five years six months.
The events date back to June 17, 2015, when some of the defendants traveled by semi-rigid boat to a location offshore where the drugs were unloaded and the operation began to turn the ship toward port. The case is linked to Burriana and the Valencian Community, as noted by the Supreme Court.
Officers from Burriana Company’s Financial Patrol were assigned to monitor the port to ensure the cargo was discharged and to hinder other patrols from locating the shipment. The Civil Guard’s objective was to disrupt the trafficking operation and protect the port area from interference.
Most defendants acknowledge participation
The first defendant to testify described receiving coordinates to transport the cargo and noted that after the operation, instructions were given for the ship to enter the port. There were concerns that the Civil Guard itself might have been compromised. The other five defendants admitted their involvement in the events.
When questioned by their lawyers, the two civilian guards claimed they had heard from the Service Operations Center that a vessel loaded with cannabis would enter the port during their shift. They described patrolling the market area and not seeing anything suspicious.
Cross-claims among guards
According to their statements, additional steps were taken after another COS alert, and the officers moved to the location where the boat was actually found. One of the agents testified that he jumped onto the boat, uncovered a tarpaulin, and found the bales inside.
The two accused guards defended the rapid appearance of the EODA troops, and the defense suggested a possible conflict between the head of the unit and one of the defendants. There was also an attempt to cast doubt on other Burriana Financial Service personnel at the hearing, with the presiding judge warning of the need for fair play and warning that witnesses could be reined in if necessary.
Among the witnesses was the head of the EODA team, who testified that the COS had informed him that a drug-laden ship had appeared in the port. He stated that he went to the port, coordinated with colleagues, and decided to immobilize the vessel and conduct a visual inspection based on the information gathered.
The witness added that a phone tap captured a conversation between a defendant and his mother, who allegedly stated that the civil guards were involved and that EODA was pursuing proper investigations to determine the truth. The witness recounted how some port security cameras in the area were malfunctioning, potentially due to a faulty fuse, while functioning cameras captured other angles of the ship. One accused civilian guard reportedly moved away from a partner and stood in front of the vessel, using a mobile phone, and another allegedly cut GPS connections at a specific time.
The trial is expected to continue tomorrow and Friday, with additional testimonies and examination of the evidence. [Citation: Court records, volume on Burriana incident, attribution to the local judiciary processes.]