a day ago
Moroccan defendants in Barbate Civil Guard case released on bail
The Primary Court in Barbate (Cádiz province) has granted temporary release to two of the four defendants involved in the killing of two Spanish Civil Guard officers. The officers died after their patrol boat was struck by a drug-smuggling «lancha» (speedboat) in the port of Barbate on the night of February 9, 2024.
The two Moroccan defendants were released after posting bail of €10,000 and €15,000, respectively. As part of the precautionary measures, they are prohibited from leaving the country, had their passports confiscated, and must report regularly to court.
The Public Prosecutor's Office agreed to the temporary release request submitted by the defendants' legal team in November 2024. Both men are believed to have been part of the boat's crew, along with the driver, Karim El Bakkali, also Moroccan, who was arrested on September 19, 2024. A fourth suspect, arrested in May 2025, was denied provisional release by the judge.
The deadly incident in Barbate, captured in widely circulated video footage, occurred when a high-speed smuggling boat rammed the Civil Guard vessel, killing two officers.
