The first vice president and counselor of the Presidency, Health, and Emergencies, Antonio Sanz, has urged the central Executive to provide "greater legal security" to the members of the State Security Forces and Corps, in addition to a reinforcement of material means, to intensify the fight against drug trafficking in Andalusia.
In an audio broadcast this Tuesday by the Junta, Sanz has argued that "to confront this evolution of criminality, it is necessary to equip the security forces and bodies with the necessary material means, but also to provide them with a legal framework, with full respect for the rights and freedoms of citizens and the principle of proportionality, but without diminishing the effectiveness of police action."
The Andalusian leader has accused the government of Pedro Sánchez of "abandonment" in the battle against criminal networks and has reiterated the Junta's demand to reactivate the Coordinating Body for Anti-Drug Operations (OCON-Sur). He has denounced that "the Sánchez government has chosen not to act, not to propose regulatory changes, not to propose more means, because there are no more resources, because there is no more personnel, and because there are no specialized units. On the contrary, it has eliminated them."
In this same vein, the vice president has called for a "reinforcement" of the investigation and intervention units, as well as the intelligence units, and has linked this demand to the "recognition of police work in Andalusia as a high-risk profession."
Sanz has insisted that "Andalusia cannot continue paying for the incompetence of Sánchez and Marlaska. We demand action from the Sánchez government, we accuse the Ministry of the Interior and the Government of negligence and irresponsibility for leaving the State security forces in Andalusia abandoned and at their own fate, without means or support."
At the same time, he has requested "an increase" in the staff of the National Police and the Civil Guard, along with a regulatory reform that "protects the authority of the agents and raises the consequences of assaults." In this context, he has proposed "the inclusion of serious attacks on the State security forces and bodies as a eurocrime, reinforcing the penalties for it."
Furthermore, he has considered it "fundamental to also toughen the Penal Code and reform the Criminal Procedure Law, a plan for the renewal of the maritime fleet in Andalusia in 24 months and a comprehensive maintenance plan 24-7 to ensure constant operability."
At this point, Sanz has emphasized the need to modify "essentially" the organic law of the security forces and bodies, in light of "the behavior of criminals in the pursuits in the narco-boats."
As he explained, "the objective would be to guarantee greater legal security and proportionality in the reaction and in the attack and in the defense by our security forces."
Sanz's words add to those of the Minister of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Development, and Public Administration, José Antonio Nieto, who this very Tuesday has demanded from the central Government "a clear plan" against drug and human trafficking, which he has described as "the two great global mafias."