Marlaska justifies the end of OCON-Sur due to operational decisions and says that drug seizures then increased

CALATAYUD (ZARAGOZA), Feb. 19. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, justified this Monday the end of the anti-drug trafficking unit in Campo de Gibraltar OCON-Sur, which was created "temporarily" in 2018 and was dissolved for "operational" issues in 2022. In addition, it has maintained that in 2023, after "relocating" its 150 agents among the judicial police of the area commands, there were "a greater number of seizures than in previous years."

In statements to the press after inaugurating the new Police station in Calatayud (Zaragoza), Grande-Marlaska indicated that it was the "operational managers" who decided on the creation and elimination of OCON-Sur, "an organization that had a absolutely temporary."

Grande-Marlaska has also related the decision on OCON-Sur to "another issue that is sub iudice and that has open judicial procedures", in reference, although without expressly citing it, to the investigation that affects Lieutenant Colonel David Oliva for revelation of secrets and bribery, due to his alleged involvement with the theft of information from Internal Affairs proceedings of the Civil Guard.

"If we look at the results, we should indicate that once these units were distributed within the different judicial police forces, drug seizures, anti-money laundering operations, etc., were implemented; that is, in 2023 there were a greater number of seizures than in previous years," Grande-Marlaska continued.

The minister has defended his management against drug trafficking, recalling that on the same day of the murder of two civil guards in Barbate (Cádiz) who were run over by a drug boat, the fourth Security Plan for Campo de Gibraltar was presented in Algeciras, with an analysis of the results of previous years and forecasts for 2024 and 2025.

The head of the Interior has stressed that the plans are subject to "continuous evaluation" and that "they will be implemented in the necessary way to guarantee greater effectiveness in the response to organized crime with the necessary and precise means so that agents can develop their work with maximum security.

Grande-Marlaska has reiterated his condolences to the family and friends of the two civil guards murdered on February 9 in Barbate, expressing his "concern for the injured."

"When an investigation is in progress, let it continue on its path and reach the conclusions of what happened," he said, making it clear that "these murders are not going to go unpunished" and that the alleged perpetrators have already been arrested, put on trial. judicial order and are in provisional prison.

In this sense, he has insisted that the judicial authority will determine the responsibilities in the trial and that it is the responsibility of the State Security Forces and Corps to bring the alleged perpetrators to justice "and carry out the investigation with all the professionalism required." the Civil Guard, so that there is no element that distorts the investigation".