Spanish Authorities Bust Major Hashish Trafficking Ring, Arrest 27 Including Top Moroccan Suspect

The dismantled criminal network is, to date, the largest supplier of Moroccan hashish in Spain, according to the Civil Guard, which specifies that 10 people were arrested during a first phase of the operation launched at the beginning of 2020. Among the arrested persons, there is a lawyer from Malaga, specialized in drug trafficking cases. During the second phase, several traffickers were also arrested, including a Moroccan, considered one of the most wanted criminals internationally. He was arrested in Barcelona, reports La Sexta.

Another Moroccan, the right-hand man of the group’s leader, was arrested in Malaga. The two traffickers, originally from Al Hoceima, are childhood friends and started fishing together, until over the years they became the biggest hashish suppliers. The first ten criminals arrested introduced a total of 117,000 kilos of hashish and 3,359 kilos of cocaine into Spain. In total, 27 people were arrested at the end of the two phases of the operation, including 6 under investigation. 58 bank accounts were frozen and 36 high-end vehicles as well as 10 other assets were also seized.

Over the last few months of 2021, they supplied more than 100 tons of hashish to various criminal organizations operating in Spain. They transport the drugs on boats that leave the Netherlands, sail for months to load the drugs in Morocco before introducing them on the Spanish coasts. The money from the drugs was then laundered through the acquisition of several yachts and the creation of companies in the United Kingdom, Belgium, Germany, France, Italy, Ireland and Turkey.