Four men have been arrested after a speedboat suspected of being linked to drug trafficking ran aground on the sand at one end of La Garita beach in Arrieta, Lanzarote, during the town's annual patron saint festivities on Saturday.

According to initial reports, the vessel was carrying three Spanish nationals and one French national. After the boat became stranded, all four occupants abandoned it and attempted to flee the scene on foot.

However, they were quickly intercepted and arrested by Guardia Civil officers, who were already patrolling the area as part of the security operation for the local celebrations.

Drug trafficking investigation underway

The four suspects were taken to Guardia Civil headquarters, where they are being questioned while officers continue their investigation.

At first, there was speculation that the vessel could have been involved in the arrival of irregular migrants to the island. However, the Guardia Civil ruled out that possibility following initial checks.

Investigators now believe the speedboat may have suffered a mechanical failure before being pushed ashore by the current.

Possible drugs link

Despite this, detectives are also investigating whether the vessel was being used for drug trafficking.

One line of enquiry is whether those on board may have thrown a consignment of drugs into the sea before reaching the coast. However, the Guardia Civil has not officially confirmed that any drugs were on the boat or recovered from the water.

The investigation remains ongoing as officers work to establish where the vessel came from, where it was heading, and whether those arrested were involved in any criminal activity.