Spanish Police Dismantle Violent Moroccan Drug Ring, Seize 3,000 Kilos of Hashish

The "El Rifain" network was unloading its hashish shipments from Morocco on the beach of El Palmer, between Aguadulce and La Garrofa, in Almería, for several months. In early 2022, a unloading operation went wrong. A rival gang was waiting for them in the area and stole the drugs, after a shootout. The Civil Guard was alerted, but no arrests were made. Since this incident, "El Rifain" has tightened its security during its operations, suspecting a mole in its ranks.

On June 9, 2022, they were located by the Civil Guard as they were unloading hashish in the area. The agents descended on the spot where they were greeted with gunfire from the drug traffickers. They were "very professional," says a source from the Civil Guard to Antena 3, specifying that they were wearing bulletproof vests and balaclavas and using automatic firearms. After a chase, the agents managed to arrest 10 people and seize a ton of hashish.

Originally from northern Morocco, the gang leader lived in Roquetas de Mar, Almería, and had a high standard of living even though he did not work and had no declared income. Between July 2020 when the Civil Guard began investigating the gang and their arrest, seven shipments were intercepted. In total, 31 people, mostly of Moroccan origin, were arrested, and 3,055 kilos of hashish, 60,000 euros in cash, 30 vehicles, three drug boats, as well as weapons and ammunition were seized.