Stunned sunbathers watch as ‘smugglers’ crash their speedboat onto a Spanish beach and flee after being chased by police helicopter
- The alleged offenders rammed their boat into sand at high speed and made off
- Incident was filmed by locals on June 6 on a beach in Cádiz, Spain
- Four boat riders were reportedly arrested by reinforcements on land
Sunbathers in Cádiz, Spain were left reeling after a group of suspected speedboat smugglers dramatically landed on the beach next to them.
The alleged offenders rammed their boat into sand at high speed after it was pursued through the sea by a police helicopter following overhead.
The incident was filmed by locals on June 6 when the boat was spotted speeding through the water next to the Sobrevela beach in Línea de la Concepción in Cádiz.
The alleged offenders rammed their boat at high speed into sand on the beach in Cádiz, Spain after the speedboat was pursued through the sea by a police helicopter following overhead
The white police helicopter circled and followed the speedboat in hot pursuit.
In an unexpected move, however, the drivers of the boat decided to change course and head for the beach.
Local police reportedly said the 14-metre boat, had four 300-horsepower engines and was travelling so fast when it ploughed into the sand that it could have led to a fatal accident if it had crashed into sunbathers.
Video footage shows how one woman sitting in her deckchair when she suddenly realises what is going on and runs for cover.
The speedboat heads towards the beach where swimmers and sunbathers are gathered
The black and white boat drove onto the beach spraying sand in all directions.
The helicopter then flew over the beach and hovers lower towards the beach.
Once on dry land, the suspected smugglers leaped from the speedboat and ran away leaving the boat’s engine running and sand spraying into the air.
The four people on the boat all tried to run away once it had stopped on the beach, using the cloud of sand whipped up by the helicopter as cover but were caught by the police soon afterwards as reinforcements arrived by land and sea.
The videos were recorded by people on the beach as well as several others who were out walking along the shoreline.
One of the sunbathers can be heard screaming: ‘What are you doing coming here!
Once on dry land, the suspected smugglers leaped from the speedboat and ran away leaving the boat’s engine running and sand spraying into the air
The pursuit started out at see with the boat speeding through the water and a helicopter flying close by
The area is known for drug trafficking but local media reported that no drugs were found on the boat.
Three of the suspects come from Concepción in Cádiz and the fourth from Ceuta.
They are facing charges for smuggling, disobedience and resistance to law enforcement officers.
The Civil Guard fear drug activity in the area is starting up again now the coronavirus confinement rules are being eased in Spain and the warmer weather returns.