Two men were injured in a shootout between rival drug trafficking gangs near Elche.
One of the men suffered several shot wounds in the incident which took place between Elche and Novelda, after what investigators believe was the result of one of the gangs trying to steal drugs from the other.
According to the Guardia Civil, the shooting victim, a 30-year-old male of Algerian origin, was transferred to Alicante General Hospital from the health centre in Monforte del Cid, where he had been treated in the first instance.
The second victim, a 48-year-old also of Algerian origin, was initially assisted in the health centre at Crevillente and then evacuated to the Hospital of Vinalopó in Elche. Neither of the victims suffered life-threatening injuries.
The location of the shoot out is under investigation as officers only became aware of the incident when the men presented at the relevant medical centres. The search is now on for members of both the gangs, of Spanish and North African nationality, some of whom are said to have fled the scene in a van.
