Spanish Police Bust Major Moroccan Hashish Smuggling Ring, 32 Arrested

The operation was led by the investigating court of La Línea de la Concepción (Cádiz) and supervised by the anti-drug prosecutor’s office of Campo de Gibraltar. The Civil Guard opened an investigation in March 2020 on nautical companies suspected of providing high-speed boats to criminal groups dedicated to the trafficking of hashish from Morocco to the Spanish coasts to carry out their illegal activity.

To read: Spanish Police Bust Major Moroccan Hashish Rings, Seize 10 Tons of Drugs

Five searches were carried out at the homes of 18 arrested people who were making deposits into the bank accounts of their company. According to the investigators, these people would have deposited more than 9,611,522 euros between 2015 and 2019. The profits made on these bank deposits were then used to buy 250 and 350 hp engines worth between 25,000 and 30,000 euros for boats that were used to transport the hashish from Morocco.

To read: Spanish Crackdown Forces Moroccan Drug Traffickers to Seek New Routes into Europe

In total, more than three million euros would have been used to purchase these engines. Three employees of the bank agency, under judicial investigation, are also suspected of negligence in money laundering. The proof, the assets of the administrators of the investigated company have increased by at least 800,000 euros in an unjustified manner. This includes a luxury house in Sotogrande, other houses, garages and storage rooms, as well as two vehicles.

The 32 arrested people and the 8 others under investigation are accused of the offenses of belonging to a criminal organization, money laundering and document forgery.