Spanish police have stated they have arrested 26 farmers for illegal water use in Malaga. Police officials inspected more than 3 million m2 of land being used to grow subtropical crops in Axarquia, Malaga. Of the 299 wells and other water sources they came across, police discovered that 250 were illegal.
It seems that avocado and mango cultivation constituted most of the illegally watered crops. Malaga is one of Europe's biggest producers of mangos and avocados, but both fruits are extremely water-intensive, and the area is facing a severe drought.
The Guardia Civil's nature protection service (Seprona) has launched an operation against illegal water use, targeting a series of subtropical plantations in the Axarquía district in the east of Malaga province. Police found that the illegal water use may have been going on continuously for years. They estimate that the total damage caused to the public water resources is valued at €10 million ($11 million).
Source: aa.com.tr