Diego Rubio, director of the Prime Minister's Office Cabinet, will present the 2025 Annual National Security Report to the Joint Commission (Congress-Senate) for National Security this Friday. The document highlights the presence of over 600 narcolanchas operating in the Strait of Gibraltar area and warns about the risk posed by the so-called Russian 'ghost fleet' to Spain's security.
The report, published in May, specifies that these 'go-fast' type vessels are suspected of carrying out operations related to drug trafficking. It also notes an increased aggressiveness from 'narcos' towards Security Forces agents, who are even using weapons of war.
Regarding hashish trafficking, the National Security Department's report indicates a reactivation of the route from Morocco, the world's leading producer, towards Spain in 2025. The Executive acknowledges that the areas of the Strait of Gibraltar and the Canary Islands-Atlantic arc present a growing vulnerability for Spain.
It is mentioned that some organized groups might be using routes and means originally designed for drug trafficking to engage in activities linked to illegal immigration, thereby diversifying their criminal operations. Concerning the Russian 'ghost fleet', National Security estimates that 50 such vessels have been detected near the Canary Islands, representing a fivefold increase in their presence throughout 2025. This situation necessitates enhanced naval surveillance and port control.
Although Spain is considered a secondary target for Russian hybrid activities, the document prepared by the National Security Department, under the Prime Minister's Office, warns of the increasing action of these Russian oil tankers in the Mediterranean. These ships, which evade sanctions and operate near Spanish coasts, pose significant risks.
The report explains that these are hydrocarbon transport vessels involved in the transshipment of crude oil and refined products of Russian, Venezuelan, and Iranian origin, intended for Asian countries. Despite the increased presence of this Russian fleet, the government admits that the legal possibility of taking action against these vessels at sea is difficult to resolve.
Furthermore, the National Security Department's annual report addresses extremist interference, primarily Russian, in disinformation campaigns. One of the strategic objectives is to erode the institutional neutrality of the National Police, the Civil Guard, and the Armed Forces. Sensitive debates on irregular migration flows have been exploited, spreading rumors of imminent waves to foster social polarization and project a deterioration of public security, as evidenced in Torre-Pacheco (Murcia) in July 2025.
Additionally, campaigns related to public health have been reactivated, including conspiracy theories about vaccines and manipulated messages about epidemic outbreaks, undermining institutional trust and hindering the response of governments and health organizations. The report also highlights 'economic destabilization' as a qualitative change, where disinformation is used to commit large-scale fraud or manipulate economic systems.
