A transnational criminal organization has been dismantled and five people have been arrested, including the head of an international network who had been on the run for months after evading a police operation carried out by different countries.
The network's infrastructure in Spain was led by a major drug trafficker who controlled a logistics network that distributed large quantities of drugs between different European countries.
Six entries and searches have been carried out in the provinces of Alicante, Murcia, Las Palmas and Madrid in which, among other things, more than €35.000 in cash, two boats and a vehicle were seized.
In one of the searches carried out, a clandestine laboratory for the design of synthetic drugs that was located in an industrial warehouse in a Murcian town has been dismantled.
30/08/23
Agents of the National Police and the Customs Surveillance Service of the Tax Agency have intercepted a boat loaded with more than six tons of hashish in the south of the Canary Islands. There has been the collaboration of the Portuguese Judicial Police, the Swedish Police through its Interior Attaché of Nordic Countries in Spain, and the Dutch Police through its Interior Attaché in Spain, as well as with the authorities French customs authorities (DNRD) and the Maritime Analysis and Operations Center (MAOC) based in Lisbon (Portugal).
As a result of the operation, a transnational criminal organization has been dismantled and five people have been arrested, including the head of an international network who had been on the run for months after evading a police operation carried out by different countries. The network's infrastructure in Spain was led by a major drug trafficker known for his international links to transport large quantities of drugs between different European countries. Six entries and searches have been carried out in the provinces of Alicante, Murcia, Las Palmas and Madrid in which, among other things, more than €35.000 in cash, two boats and a vehicle were seized. In one of the searches carried out, a clandestine laboratory for the design of synthetic drugs that was located in an industrial warehouse in a Murcia town was dismantled.
The investigation began in 2020 by the Central Narcotics Brigade when the presence of a sailboat-type vessel docked on the island of Lanzarote was detected, which could be used for a maritime drug trafficking operation. After several investigations, the agents established possible international connections, so the information was shared with international organizations as well as with other European police units. As a result of this cooperation, the Netherlands authorities indicated that there could be a criminal organization of Dutch origin related to the boat found in our country.
Alicante as an operations center
As a result of the investigation, the police verified that an international criminal organization based in the Netherlands used a town in Alicante as its operations center. The logistics and infrastructure in Spain of the criminal network was led by a major drug trafficker known for his international ties by controlling a logistics network capable of transporting large quantities of drugs between different European countries.
The members of the organization operated under strong security measures and used a very sophisticated modus operandi, with a high degree of preparation and planning. They traveled in person between different countries to discuss the details of the illicit businesses they carried out, which made police work difficult.
6.044 kilos of hashish distributed in 169 bales
After several months monitoring the movements of the network, the researchers detected that a boat was transferred to Alicante and that the members of the organization were preparing it to undertake a voyage to the Atlantic Ocean. Suspecting that it might contain a narcotic substance, the agents decided to intercept it, carrying out the boarding of the “Condor” patrol boat of the Customs Surveillance Service (DAVA), 95 miles south of the Canary Islands, locating 6.044 kilos inside. of hashish distributed in 169 bales and arresting its two crew members.
Continuing with the investigation, the investigators carried out six entries and searches, in the provinces of Alicante, Murcia, Madrid and Gran Canaria, in which, among other things, more than €35.000 in cash, a multitude of mobile and satellite phones, various documentation of vessels used by the organization and a vehicle.
Clandestine drug design laboratory dismantled
During the search carried out in a warehouse located in a town in Murcia, the agents located and dismantled a clandestine laboratory for the design of synthetic drugs in which a large quantity of substances used for the production of pills and industrial machinery for the production of drugs were found. the tablets and their counting. In addition, a twelve meter long inflatable boat was also seized.
On the other hand, in one of the searches carried out at the home of one of the detainees in Alicante, the police seized small quantities of tusi (pink cocaine), hashish, marijuana and crystal, as well as supplies for retail distribution.
An international criminal who had been on the run for months was arrested
During the operation, five people have been arrested, including the leader of an international criminal organization dedicated to drug trafficking and money laundering, who was on the run from the German authorities, for whom 15 years in prison are requested.
