The civil guard arrested three of the boat’s passengers following Friday’s incident in the southern port of Barbate near Cádiz that also saw two officers injured.

Two others who travelled by vehicle to pick up the passengers were also detained, the civil guard said.

READ ALSO: Two Spanish Guardia Civil killed in drug raid chase: police

Several hours later, the force announced “three other passengers who had fled the boat” were detained.

The AUGC, an association representing the paramilitary police, and Spanish media shared a video showing a night-time chase in the port involving several vessels.

One of the two injured officers remains in hospital but is out of danger, the civil guard added.

Spain’s Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska visited the scene of the incident and called the event an “assassination” and promised “zero impunity” in efforts to stop drug trafficking.

The government of the nearby British enclave of Gibraltar also expressed its condolences for the officer’s deaths.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said he “deeply regrets” the deaths, while the country’s royal family said on the same social network that it was “deeply saddened”.

Lamento profundamente la muerte de los agentes de la @guardiacivil en acto de servicio en la costa de Barbate.

Quiero mandar un sentido abrazo a sus familiares y compañeros. Y mis deseos de recuperación para los agentes heridos.

Todo mi reconocimiento a la gran labor de las… https://t.co/KMDu2SmcMl

— Pedro Sánchez (@sanchezcastejon) February 10, 2024

The sea off Cádiz has seen several confrontations and major drug seizures by customs and police.

Spain is a major transit point for narcotics arriving in Europe from North Africa.

READ ALSO: Why is Spain Europe’s cocaine gateway?