Spanish police have discovered a covert underground shooting range believed to have been run by a weapons trafficking network that supplied firearms, including assault rifles, to drug cartels.
According to a police statement, officers carried out a raid on a property in the southern province of Granada, Andalusia, where they found the facility hidden three floors beneath the surface.
Due to its depth, gunfire from the range was inaudible to local residents, the statement noted.
This marks the first instance in Spain where police have uncovered an ‘illegal shooting range run by a criminal group’, according to officials.
Investigators suspect the facility was used to test weapons intended for drug gangs, who would then use them either for self-protection or in confrontations with rival groups.
‘The operation has removed weapons from the streets that could have been used to commit extremely serious crimes,’ the statement said.
Police reported that the group was dealing in assault rifles, submachine guns, automatic pistols, ammunition, bulletproof vests and other tactical gear.
During the raid, three individuals were taken into custody, and authorities confiscated a number of weapons along with over €60,000 in cash. Police indicated that more arrests may follow.
Spain’s role as a major entry point into Europe for drug trafficking is attributed to its close connections with former Latin American colonies and its geographical proximity to Morocco, a leading cannabis producer.
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