Increase in drug trafficking on the River Guadalquivir

Question for written answer E-000164/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Juan Ignacio Zoido Álvarez (PPE)

On 30 December 2024, in Coria del Río (Seville), the Spanish Guardia Civil seized the largest cocaine haul brought into southern Spain by speedboat to date. In total, police officers seized seven tonnes of cocaine and a number of weapons that were being transported up the Guadalquivir.

In the wake of this, statements from police officers and local press reports have warned that the Guadalquivir has become an increasingly vital route for cocaine entering Europe. The river, already known in the press as the 'kilometre zero' of drugs in Europe, has experienced an unprecedented increase in drug trafficking, which brings with it a rise in social violence. Several police officers, who have faced extraordinary danger in recent months, have told the press that they are prepared to stop 'one or two boats' a night, but that they actually see 'up to 15'.

In view of this:

• 1.What measures is the Commission taking, as part of the EU Drugs Strategy, to reduce drug trafficking via the River Guadalquivir?
• 2.Has the Spanish Government informed it about this situation? Has it asked for any special support to tackle this extraordinary threat?

Submitted: 15.1.2025