Spain’s Guardia Civil, working in conjunction with Europol, have seized more than €6.5 million in cash and arrested 22 suspects after dismantling a Barcelona-based international cocaine smuggling network.
EU law enforcement agency Europol said the investigation that began in 2022 unearthed a scheme in which Bulgarian, Colombian and Spanish citizens colluded to smuggle the drug from Colombia to Europe.
Suspects hid in ship containers to sneak into European ports and extracted the cocaine at night with the collaboration of corrupt workers, a statement read.
Albanian gang members based in Dubai provided the finance to pay the drug producers in Colombia and the proceeds were subsequently laundered.
Intelligence reports suggested the network was capable of smuggling up to one tonne of cocaine per week, Europol said.
Spain’s Guardia Civil said it seized more than three tonnes of cocaine in the country during the years-long investigation and arrested 22 suspects following 27 raids on properties during December in Barcelona, Cádiz, Madrid, Malaga and Valencia.
Investigators uncovered more than €6.5 million in cash stashed in homes and hidden vehicle compartments accessible through electronic devices, the force said in a statement.
Spanish authorities also seized 35 vehicles, including 8 luxury cars (estimated valued of about €2.5m), jewellery and 48 firearms, including an AK-47 assault rifle. 53 bank accounts were also frozen.
Authorities in Panama seized more than four tonnes of Spain-bound cocaine in connection with the network in October last year.
Spain is one of the major gateways to Europe for international drug trafficking networks due to its ties to former colonies in Latin America and its proximity to Morocco, a top cannabis producer.
The operation was supported by Europol as well as law enforcement in Bulgaria, Colombia, Costa Rica, Panama and the United Arab Emirates.
🚨 Europol’s Taskforce targets drug traffickers across entire distribution chain from Colombia to Spain. 22 arrested in Spain, 7.2 tonnes of cocaine and EUR 6 million seized, and 53 bank accounts frozen.
Read more in our press release ⤵️https://t.co/AGRnlTWXDy pic.twitter.com/xT0ffz6TgU
— Europol (@Europol) January 24, 2025
Sign up for the FREE Weekly Newsletter from Spain in English.
Please support Spain in English with a donation.
Click here to get your business activity or services listed on our DIRECTORY.
Click here for further details on how to ADVERTISE with us.