On a clear day at sea, an unusual scene unfolded when two Civil Guards, one active and one retired, interrupted a routine fishing excursion. Their cruise aboard a recreational boat started from a Torrevieja harbor on Thursday morning, drifting toward the stretch of coast near San Pedro del Pinatar. The pair were patrolling the area more out of habit than duty, enjoying the maritime air and keeping their eyes open for anything that might require attention. What began as a casual stroll along the coastline quickly turned into a discovery with potential legal and safety implications when they noticed something floating on the water’s surface.
One of the guards, Pedro Lucas Cegarra, is a retired member who previously served in the Torrevieja and Orihuela areas. He also worked as an agent with the Cartagena Civil Traffic Guards, a unit known for patrolling the roads and waterways under their jurisdiction. The colleagues had spent several hours wandering the shoreline before coming across a suspicious object bobbing in the current. Their experience told them to approach with caution, and as they drew nearer, the brown bundle became more clearly identifiable as something illicit—specifically, a large quantity of marijuana. The recognition was swift enough to prompt them to document the find and prepare for a careful handover of the evidence.
Following the initial assessment, the fishermen aboard the pleasure boat assisted by confirming details about the floating package and ensuring that the discovery was handled safely. The two Civil Guards, relying on their training and professional judgment, coordinated with the boat’s occupants and arranged for the immediate return to port. They carried the matter back to the Torrevieja harbor, where the seized cargo was logged as part of the ongoing maritime anti-narcotics efforts in the region. The incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced by coastal police units in monitoring sea routes and safeguarding the community from illicit trafficking. Local authorities later noted that the discovery would contribute to a broader investigation into cross-border smuggling networks that use the coast as a transit point. Observers say that such recoveries, though infrequent, highlight the importance of vigilance and timely reporting by everyday mariners and law enforcement partners alike. This incident is cited in reports as a reminder of the close cooperation between civilian fishermen, coast guards, and port authorities, all working toward safer waters. Inquiries and follow-up procedures were initiated to determine the origins of the cargo and to assess potential links to organized crime groups that operate in the region for narcotic distribution. The discovery stands as a concrete example of how routine maritime activity can intersect with serious law enforcement actions, with the results contributing to ongoing efforts to disrupt illegal supply chains in Spanish coastal areas.