Security forces intervened in the aftermath of a floating cache of 26 bales of marijuana drifting offshore near Pilar de la Horadada, roughly 40 miles from Alicante. Initial assessments indicate the contraband was jettisoned at sea by drug traffickers, who were identified by the authorities. A patrol boat from the Maritime Services collected the packages and transported them to the port of Alicante, where the case was handed to the security court and an investigation was launched to determine the origins and the full chain of custody of the cache.
The discovery occurred in the late afternoon of April 9 when Civil Guard units were alerted to 26 floating bales about 42 miles from the Alicante port and approximately 40 kilometers beyond the border with the Region of Murcia, near Pilar de la Horadada. The Río Guadiaro patrol vessel set sail from Alicante to the reconnaissance point, supported by Maritime Services personnel who located the floating cargo after an extensive search of the sea surface. The operation underscores ongoing efforts to monitor the surrounding waters for illicit shipments and to safeguard maritime routes into the peninsula. The recovered items were ultimately transported to the port for analysis and documentation by the authorities.
Following the retrieval, the patrol vessel returned to its duties in the Port of Alicante. Civil Guard personnel proceeded to dispatch samples to the Government Sub-Delegation’s Health Area for laboratory analysis, aiming to determine the exact contents, purity, and potential adulterants in the seized material. The first assessments suggested a heavy shipment, consistent with the characteristics of large-scale trafficking operations, prompting further forensic examination.
Preliminary estimates from the investigators indicate that each bundle weighed around 40 kilograms, placing the total weight of the sea-displaced cargo at approximately 1,040 kilograms. This figure reflects early calculations based on visible packaging and surface footprint, with confirmation pending more precise measurements and chemical analysis. The ongoing inquiry will seek to map the movement of the drugs, identify the vessel or arranging parties responsible for the drop, and establish whether other distribution links were involved.
The Civil Guard continues to pursue the investigation to identify the source, the individuals involved, and the broader network behind this significant discovery. Law enforcement officials emphasize that such seizures are part of a larger set of operations carried out in recent months, which have consistently targeted attempts to transport illicit substances by sea toward the peninsula. In several instances, trafficking groups have been observed dropping shipments at sea to avoid capture, attempting to remove evidence or mislead authorities during transit. The authorities stress that anyone attempting to evade legitimate security measures will be pursued and held accountable.
A Alicante Command statement noted that this service aligns with other recent maritime interdiction efforts. The ongoing pattern suggests that the drugs originated from maritime routes and were dumped or discarded as part of escape or evasion tactics used by smugglers. The forces reiterate their commitment to safeguarding coastal routes and preventing the illicit flow of narcotics into the peninsula, while continuing to monitor and interdict further attempts at smuggling. This operation, like others in the region, highlights the collaboration between port authorities, civil guards, and maritime services to disrupt criminal networks and protect the public.