The president of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno, has called on the Spanish government under Pedro Sánchez to reinstate the unit specialising in the fight against drug trafficking, OCON-Sur of the Guardia Civil . He cited an increase in criminal activity in several Andalusian provinces and what he sees as inadequate staffing and equipment for the security forces. No response from Madrid had been received by the time of publication.
OCON-Sur was created in 2018 as a coordinating operational structure for investigations into smuggling networks in southern Spain, particularly in coastal areas and the Campo de Gibraltar. According to figures released at the time, it had around 150 specialist officers. Between 2022 and 2023, the unit was disbanded or absorbed into other units. The Ministerio del Interior justified the move on operational grounds; Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska had repeatedly stressed that the fight against drug trafficking remained assured after the restructuring. Since then, the focus has shifted more towards the Guardia Civil’s regular investigation units, including the EDOA of the Policía Judicial, as well as territorial commands.
Moreno countered that the situation along parts of the Andalusian coast had recently worsened again. He gave no specific current figures on seizures, routes or network structures, but referred to reports from affected areas and criticised the Guardia Civil’s lack of equipment and personnel. His proposal is therefore aimed at restoring a centrally coordinated operational force in the region.
The political debate is also being shaped by the Partido Popular which tabled a plan for the southern coasts in the Congreso de los Diputados in July, explicitly proposing the reinstatement of a structure similar to OCON-Sur. While government representatives describe the restructuring of responsibilities at the time as professionally justified, regional actors in Andalusia criticise what they see as gaps in operational coordination.
Reactivating OCON-Sur would have organisational, staffing and budgetary consequences. It would affect the Guardia Civil’s operational planning, the role of national and regional investigative services, and coordination with the judicial authorities. Without reliable official figures on current trends in drug trafficking, the effectiveness of the existing structure remains an open question for now. It is not yet clear whether the Ministerio del Interior will take up Moreno’s demand.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).