News
A boat using illegal fishing gear to catch octopus seized in Santa Pola

A boat using illegal fishing equipment to catch octopus (Octopus vulgaris) in Santa Pola Bay has been found and taken by the Guardia Civil, working together with Maritime Fisheries inspectors from the Alicante government, as part of a joint operation.
According to a statement from the fishing institute, the intervention occurred on February 5 when fisheries inspectors requested assistance after observing a semi-rigid boat with two individuals on board, one of whom was wearing a diving suit, depositing pieces of pipe on the seabed as traps from the coast.
The occupants of the vessel were identified, and the equipment they were transporting was inspected after it was intercepted with the assistance of the Provincial Maritime Service and the Special Underwater Activities Group (GEAS). The inspection led to the discovery of buckets, tools, and a vial of sodium hypochlorite (bleach). During this initial operation, we recovered the first illicit trap.
GEAS returned to the area to conduct a “thorough search” of the seabed during a subsequent survey, this time with specialised diving equipment. Consequently, eight homemade traps constructed from PVC tubing were discovered and confiscated, with some of them being driven into the seabed using blunt instruments. Live octopuses were contained within four of the cages, and they were “immediately released into the sea.”
The Guardia Civil asserted that the fishing gear was devoid of any signage or identification, which is a violation of current regulations. These regulations mandate that all professional fishing gear be properly identified with the vessel’s name and registration.
The illicit material was seized, and the corresponding sanction proposals were processed after all the checks were conducted by the officers. The sustainability of the marine ecosystem is “significantly endangered” by the use of this form of illegal trap, which targets protected species without control, including juveniles under the regulatory weight of one kilogram.
In addition, this illicit activity “seriously harms professional fishermen” by introducing catches outside of legal marketing channels, such as fish markets. Some of these landings may be sold to the hospitality industry through illegal channels, without the minimum health and traceability guarantees that are necessary for fish products.
The Guardia Civil has issued a warning that illicit fishing is a severe violation of the Maritime Fishing Law and can result in fines ranging from €601 to €60,000.
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Costa Blanca
Criminal group dedicated to burglary on farms in the Vega Baja dismantled

As part of Operation “Entrada25,” the Alicante Guardia Civil has dismantled a criminal organisation that was operating in the Vega Baja region and was responsible for burglaries on agricultural estates. Part of the stolen goods have been recovered and returned to their legitimate owners, but the total value of the stolen goods is estimated to exceed 40,000 euros. One individual has been apprehended, and two others are currently being investigated as a consequence of the investigation.
In late 2024, the Torrevieja Field Robbery Team initiated an investigation into the incident in response to numerous complaints. The perpetrators were observed by the investigators to be obtaining access to the facilities by forcing locks or doors, exploiting periods when no personnel were working, and stealing high-value products such as fertilisers, compost, and phytosanitary products.
The Torrevieja Field Robbery Team received assistance from the Seprona (National Police Service) in Guardamar del Segura, the Guardia Civil stations in Guardamar and Callosa de Segura, and the local police forces of Catral, AlmoradÃ, Rafal, Cox, Granja de Rocamora, Algorfa, Benijófar, Formentera del Segura, Rojales, Benejúzar, Los Montesinos, and San Miguel de Salinas. The operation’s success was significantly influenced by the coordinated efforts of all divisions, as well as the investigation and analysis of evidence that was obtained. This led to the identification and location of the perpetrators and the discovery of some of the stolen material.
Additionally, the operation included numerous examinations of suspicious farms, warehouses, and vehicles, which were crucial in elucidating the events.
One of the suspects, a 35-year-old male, was apprehended as part of the established operations at the end of March. Subsequently, two additional males, aged 39 and 48, were identified and investigated. Five counts of burglary and an additional count of membership in a criminal organisation have been filed against each of the three individuals.
The Orihuela Court of Instruction issued an order for the detainee’s release, subject to the imposition of precautionary measures.
The Civil Guard remains committed to the prevention of this form of crime and underscores the significance of public collaboration in the fight against agricultural theft.
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Swift Arrest of Dutch Fugitive in Benidorm

A 28-year-old Dutch fugitive who was hiding in Benidorm was identified by his evasive conduct. A man in the Marina municipality has been apprehended by National Police officers. The man was the subject of a European Arrest Warrant for Extradition (EAW) issued by the Dutch authorities.
The crime of illegally possessing a firearm in 2024 led to this individual’s nine-month imprisonment. In mid-April, the fugitive fled to Spain after failing to comply with the sentence. The requesting country issued a European Arrest Warrant, with four months remaining.
The fugitive was apprehended by officers from the Benidorm Citizen Security Brigade after they identified him as acting evasively in their presence and verified that he had a European arrest warrant issued.
In January 2024, the detainee was apprehended by the Dutch police while carrying a short firearm without a valid licence. As a result, he was sentenced to three years in pre-sentence prison for the actions he committed.
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Torrevieja Local Police remove e-scooters

The Local Police of Torrevieja have removed 22 e-scooters that were improperly parked on the promenade adjacent to Avenue de la PurÃsima.
The vehicles were reported for parking in a pedestrian zone in a manner that did not adhere to the current regulations.
Parking is not permitted in pedestrian areas, walkways or footpaths. The passage should also not be obstructed by scooters, which should be parked in approved areas.
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