Spanish Police Bust Major Drug Ring: Cocaine-Hashish Smuggling Network Dismantled

The criminal network was led by two brothers, one based in Morocco and the other in Granada, actively wanted by the Moroccan justice system for drug trafficking (hashish and cocaine) through two systems. The first consisted of transporting hashish from Morocco to Spain by sea, and the second, of transporting cocaine purchased in the Netherlands and Barcelona to Morocco via Melilla. The criminal organization used the profits generated by the hashish trade to finance the cocaine trade, Guardia Civil reports.

In total, 14 searches were carried out in houses located in Melilla, Granada and the Barcelona towns of Martorell, Rubí, Terrasa and Gélida. In the latter town, the Civil Guard discovered a laboratory equipped for the reception, cutting, weighing and packaging of cocaine. A sum of cash and 43.7 kilos of cocaine were seized there. The criminal network also laundered the money from these drug trafficking through the purchase of luxury vehicles and real estate that they put in the name of third parties.

The seized goods and objects have a total estimated value of 3,635,000 euros. In detail, it is 500,000 euros in cash, 38 vehicles, property and real estate worth 653,500 euros, 49 bank accounts, numerous electronic equipment and latest generation mobile phones, elements and substances for drug preparation, 58.7 kilos of cocaine, 186 kilos of hashish, a Taser pistol, and other objects.

The brother residing in Granada, the leader of the group, had set up an important security system and had several bodyguards. After his arrest, the investigators found that he was using false papers and was the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by Morocco. The 21 arrested persons are being prosecuted before the Melilla court for a presumed crime against public health, document forgery and membership in a criminal organization.