- Marisol Garmendia highlights that “we are normalizing the presence and visibility of the security forces and bodies”
- Last year’s balance of both bodies records 2,401 detainees for various crimes and 3,166.85 kilos of drugs seized
- The National Police has processed 279,406 DNI, 143,837 passports and the Civil Guard has managed 47,666 licenses and authorizations of weapons
The delegate of the Government of Spain in the Basque Country, Marisol Garmendia, presented this morning the balance of the actions of the National Police and the Civil Guard throughout 2024. “The data show the effectiveness of our bodies and security forces in the fight against crime of all kinds and in the preservation of the security of Basque citizens. We are talking about more than 2,400 detainees, 36 disjointed criminal groups or more than 3,000 kilos of drugs seized,” said Garmendia.
The delegate, who was accompanied at the press conference by the General of the Civil Guard, José Antonio Mingorance, and the Superior Chief of Police, Jesús Herranz, highlighted the excellent data of the different actions of both bodies as well as the normalization of their presence in the Basque Country and the collaboration with other security bodies such as the Ertzaintza or the local police. “We are normalizing the presence and visibility of security forces and bodies,” he said.
Among the actions carried out by the National Police and the Civil Guard, its actions against trafficking in human beings, the constant fight against sexual and labour exploitation or detention and investigation for crimes against the environment stand out.
The Civil Guard has arrested a total of 467 people related to multiple crimes over the past year. Among them, 24 people related to crimes committed against the environment. It has also collaborated with the National Police of Catalonia in the release of 6 victims of trafficking in women for the purpose of sexual exploitation. Among its most outstanding actions is the dismantling of 34 organized criminal groups and, within its competences, the management of almost 47,600 licenses and authorizations of weapons in force.
For its part, the National Police has arrested 1,910 people for various crimes, including 68 for cybercrime, and has released 18 trafficked women. They highlight the 1,510.85 kilos of drugs seized as well as their work of documentary service with the issuance last year of 279,406 DNI and 143,837 passports.
Trafficking in women and labour exploitation
The Civil Guard and the National Police have carried out numerous operations throughout the year with the aim of dismantling criminal organizations related to the trafficking of human beings for the purpose of labor and sexual exploitation, crimes of fraud and money laundering, crimes against the environment, drug trafficking, crimes against industrial and intellectual property, against heritage and socio-economic order or illegal possession of weapons.
Some of the most relevant are Operation Joya-Aguyje, which, in collaboration between the Civil Guard of Bizkaia and the National Police, dismantled in February in Catalonia a criminal organization dedicated to the trafficking of human beings for the purpose of sexual exploitation and freed six victims who were under the control of the criminal structure. In August, the National Police released 18 women victims of sexual exploitation in an alternating club in Aduna (Gipuzkoa). “Police work is essential to protect women from the miserable abuse of trafficking,” said Marisol Garmendia, referring to these cases.
The fight against labour exploitation has been prolific this past year in which it has highlighted the growing collaboration of the Police with the Labour Inspectorate to tackle this type of abuse. Among the records, arrests and accusations, the dismantling in March by the Civil Guard of Bizkaia of a criminal organization that exploited a man in Caparrosas (Navarre) for 17 years stands out. Four members of a feriante family were arrested for enslaving that man whose disappearance had been reported in Bizkaia 20 years ago.
In June, a married couple who owned a farmhouse in Zerain, where cheese was made, were arrested for exploiting their workers. In September, a couple who promised professional footballers to work with girls were arrested and exploited in bars in Portugalete. And the owner of a bar in Getxo, his partner and a manager were also arrested for employing waitresses without a contract and under abusive working conditions, in addition to having made touches and demanded sexual favors repeatedly.
Cybercrime
The new technologies are in turn promoting new typologies of crimes that need to be combated by agents, in this case the National Police. Internet scams and the proliferation of child pornography are becoming increasingly common, as shown by the 68 people arrested last year for these crimes, 11 in Álava, 17 in Gipuzkoa and 41 in Bizkaia.
Drug fight
In June, the Civil Guard dismantled one of the most sophisticated synthetic drug laboratories discovered in Spain, capable of synthesizing between 5 and 10 kilos of methamphetamine daily and moving from León to Catalonia, where it finally fell after the investigations begun in Bizkaia almost a year and a half before. That same month, in a joint operation with the Ertzaintza, a criminal organization dedicated to drug trafficking settled in Bizkaia and Cantabria was dismantled
In March, in the so-called Operation Green Nation, the Civil Guard detained eight members of the Trinitarian gang in Vitoria, Salvatierra and Mondragón for drug trafficking and the commission of bank scams.
For its part, the National Police, together with the Crime and Organized Crime Unit of Galicia, seized in January 1,500 kg of cocaine. Two arrests were made in Portugalete and Santurtzi for coordinating and organizing the discharge of the narcotic substance from the ship transporting it from South America to a second ship.
Environmental crimes
Attention should also be drawn to the operations carried out by the GIMA6-UCOMA unit of the Civil Guard, which deals with offences against natural resources and the environment and offences relating to the protection of flora, fauna and domestic animals. They deal with investigations linked to illegal discharges into the hydraulic public domain, illicit trafficking in CITES protected species, irregular cross-border transfers of hazardous waste by road and the illegal online marketing of plant protection products banned for professional use, among others. As a result of the operations carried out by this unit, there have been a total of 24 detainees/investigators.
Expelled criminal emigrants
The National Police has expelled 55 multi-offending criminals of other nationalities from the Basque Country this year. Repatriations to their respective countries of origin have been carried out by the Brigades of Foreigners and Borders. In addition to being in an irregular situation, all those expelled had different criminal records such as sexual assaults, ill-treatment, violent robberies, drug trafficking, injuries, robberies with force, or theft. “It is a further demonstration of the important work carried out by the State security forces and bodies in collaboration with the Ertzaintza and the local police. And in compliance with its powers, the National Police has proceeded to repatriation in those cases in which this intervention is necessary,” said Marisol Garmendia.
279,406 ID and 143,837 passports
In addition to the fight against crime, drug trafficking, illegal immigration or labour and sexual exploitation, the security forces provide important work of service to citizens. Thus, the National Police has processed 279,406 DNI, 143,837 passports, 631 applications for international protection from Ukrainian citizens and issued 53,526 residence permits. For its part, the Civil Guard has managed 47,666 licences and authorizations for weapons in force. “This work of documentary service is very important to make life easier for citizens,” said Garmendia.
Help against the effects of the dana
The Civil Guard of the Basque Country has also contributed to mitigating the terrible effects of the dana. In November, two relays went to Valencia to collaborate in the reconstruction tasks and ensure security in the main affected areas. About 60 men and women of the body relieved themselves in two expeditions to help citizens to alleviate the enormous damage that rains and mud caused in towns and cities.
Openness to citizenship
The opening to the public of the facilities of the Sansomendi headquarters, in Vitoria, at the beginning of June, on the occasion of the 180th anniversary of the Civil Guard continued the path opened by the National Police in January, also in Vitoria, on the occasion of the bicentenary of the body. In October, this same body held an open day in the center of Bilbao. And the Civil Guard of Bizkaia invited the residents of Bilbao to approach the Ramón de la Sota pier to witness the deployment of media from different units in another playful and educational experience.
Garmendia stressed that “we have to normalize the presence and make visible the work carried out by the Security Forces in the Basque Country for the benefit of Basque citizens. The opportunity to get to know the work carried out by the different units of the National Police and the Civil Guard generates confidence. They have been open-door days that have also helped to open minds.”
As for the collaboration with the rest of the police in the Basque Country, Marisol Garmendia has highlighted the benefit it represents for the citizens. “Joint operations with the Ertzaintza and local police increase efficiency and have an impact on better protection of society. It has been demonstrated in the operations that have been jointly developed and I encourage you to continue deepening this path in the future.”