The ringleader, known as “El Buque,” is a high-value target for European police forces.
In the operation, a total of 17 people were arrested and 23 searches were carried out. Fourteen properties, 14 vehicles, and 38 boats were seized.
The Civil Guard and the National Police have arrested the leader of one of Spain's most active drug trafficking networks in a joint operation in which a total of 17 people were arrested and 23 searches were carried out. In addition, 14 properties, 38 vehicles, and 24 boats were seized. The leader of the criminal group, known as "El Buque," is a high-value target for European police forces.
The arrest of "El Buque" culminates an investigation lasting more than a year that has also led to the dismantling of the entire criminal organization, with the arrest of all its members for drug trafficking and belonging to a criminal organization.
The dismantled network specialized in smuggling large quantities of cocaine into Spanish territory via vessels. To achieve this, this group had strong international ties, with a presence primarily in the southern part of Gran Canaria, and employed sophisticated methods to conceal the drugs, with stashes of several tons in each operation.
As a result of this operation, approximately 100 kg of cocaine and another 100 kg of hashish were seized following two pursuits by police forces on the high seas. Twenty-four vessels were also seized.
In addition, 17 arrests have been made so far in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, La Gomera, and Fuerteventura, as well as 23 raids and searches in different judicial districts of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and La Gomera.
Considerable sums of money and 14 properties have been placed at the disposal of the National Court, and a total of 38 vehicles have been seized. Finally, a large amount of computer and documentary material has been seized for further analysis.
The investigation was conducted by Central Investigative Court Number Six and supported by the Special Anti-Drug Prosecutor's Office of the National Court. The operation also had the support of the NCA (National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom), the DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration of the United States), EUROPOL, the MAOC-N (Maritime Analysis and Operations Center for Narcotics Trafficking), and the CITCO (Center for Intelligence against Terrorism and Organized Crime).
All of these institutions have been instrumental in tracking the organization's transnational movements and intercepting its communications during critical phases of the investigation.
