Hashish was transported in the air conditioning of buses between Morocco and Belgium

The investigation, codenamed "Operation Anisakis", began at the beginning of the year thanks to close cooperation between the Spanish services and the Moroccan police and customs. This exchange of information made it possible to identify this network, which had a logistics base in the province of Almería, but whose ramifications extended to northern Europe. The mastermind of the organization was directing operations from northeastern France, on the Belgian border, the final destination where the drugs were received before being distributed.

To outwit the vigilance of the authorities, the traffickers had set up a real bus company. They organized weekly trips between Morocco and the European Union, using these regular journeys to transport the goods. The hashish was carefully hidden in false bottoms built into the vehicles’ refrigeration systems, sophisticated hiding places that were difficult to detect during the usual road checks.

The roundup resulted in the arrest of five people and the seizure of 140 kilos of hashish during eight searches carried out in Almería, Roquetas de Mar, Vícar and Melilla. The law enforcement authorities also seized more than 130,000 euros in cash and fifteen vehicles, including two buses and several luxury cars. Beyond the immediate seizures, the operation broke the financial structure of the group, blocking assets worth 2.8 million euros, including 28 properties and 50 vehicles, acquired through money laundering.