Spain’s Guardia Civil bust ‘Ukraine humanitarian aid’ drug smuggling ring

Police were alerted to the scheme after identifying a group of Ukrainians on the Costa del Sol who were collecting large quantities of marijuana that were stored in a flat in Mijas, near Málaga.

During the first stage of the investigation, the police detected in Fuengirola (Málaga) two vans registered in Ukraine with a total of 109 kg of marijuana vacuum-packed and camouflaged in cardboard boxes.

During further raids, which also targeted sites in the Málaga province as well as in the cities of Granada, Córdoba and Seville, police seized nearly €800,000 in cash, six guns and 2,500 cannabis plants.

The suspects were charged with various offences, including drug trafficking, membership of a criminal organisation and the illegal possession of weapons.

A total of 8 raids were carried out. During the arrests, two of those being investigated tried to flee, hitting a police vehicle occupied by two agents, who suffered minor injuries. They were finally arrested, and also charged with a crime against road safety and another with an attack against law enforcement officers.

30 detenidos en Andalucía por traficar con marihuana camuflada como ayuda humanitaria al pueblo ucraniano

En los registros practicados en Málaga, Granada, Córdoba y Sevilla han sido han sido intervenidos 800.000 euros, seis armas de fuego y marihuana👇https://t.co/PZed4z4Adk pic.twitter.com/Fkr5bac9o5

— Guardia Civil 🇪🇸 (@guardiacivil) December 5, 2022