Spent an entire winter in that region wild camping and witnessed quite a few arrivals of dope and farm slaves. Closest encounter was at a beach west of Algeciras, back lit by the port, where I and another stealth camper still sat aside our cars having a drink around 2a.m. while a rubber boat rushed close to the beach, two vans and staff appeared and took over some cargo. Didn't took them more than a few minutes, because we knew not to stand in the way of hard working people or fuzzing´around at all. We were recognized by those subjects but obviously weren't considered a risk, as both parties pretended to have seen nothing at all.

Sometimes they drop and forget a pack in the dark or drop them into the sea where tides bring them ashore. Most local surf instructors can only afford their life style by cleaning up the beaches when walking the dog early mornings. Keep your surf spot tidy;-)

If you would have had a look at the staff parking of the next police and border control station, i.e. in Tarifa, you might have gotten a clue why the police didn't start a nation wide ring search or deep dived into an investigation after you have called them in. Even low rank officers seem to be able to afford the latest models of six-digits-€ Range Rover Sports and Audi RS6 for their daily commute. Wonder how that works? It's called corruption.

I believe, the least risk to the common overlander, van lifer or camper arises from those drug or people traffickers. As long as you are not standing in their way of doing business or are known for calling the police just out of spite.

Biggest risk are the masses (+30% in some areas) of unemployed teens to thirty-somethings who are not busy in the tourist, slave or drug industry and cannot make a living from tiny gov subsidiaries in their parent´s basement. For them a blinky new alemannish plated VW T6 full of Apple items is the best place to get their "fair share" in re-distribution of wealth. These youngsters break into your car while you are sleeping in it. Use of narcotic gas is frequently reported.

Second biggest risk for tourist on the southern med-route are the trick robberies by highly skilled teams of balkan gypsies, serious looking elderly men in white collar with family in the back of an semi-old CEO limousine like a Merc S-class or BMW 7-series, who try to stop one at night on a deserted highway to trick out of the car ("Stop! Stop! Your car is smoking from the back, its on fire, come out and have a look yourself, while my colleague steals your stuff from the passenger seat....")* or they slap your off side mirror at the gas station to mimic an accident and intimidate you to pay for the huge dent you just caused in their state limousine.
*Happened to my mom near Barcelona. While she went out of the car to search for that fire with that helpful elderly man, her dog didn't mind the guy who took her handbag from the passenger seat. After begging for some change at the next toll station, she managed to find a rural police station. Cops instantly knew where to look for her handbag (still containing phone and credit cards) beside the road and brought them in within half an hour. Thieves were only interested in cash and get rid of every personalized item asap.

Best way to travel that region is, to appear as busy or broke as the locals or hide in some gated tourist compound.