Spanish Suspect in Major Hashish Network Arrested in Tangier After Months on the Run
Arrested in Tangier after several months on the run, a suspected Spanish drug trafficker was collecting wages from a company where he allegedly never worked. The investigation into his network has now led to 86 arrests and the seizure of more than ten tonnes of hashish.
More than 5,000 euros net per month for a job that existed only on paper. According to Spanish investigators, these payslips gave the money of a major hashish trafficking network the appearance of being legitimate. Its alleged leader, known as “Moreno,” has been arrested in Morocco.
The suspect was arrested in Tangier on October 8, after several months on the run, Europa Press reported in its update published on Tuesday, October 27. He is said to have left his home in the Madrid region in March, as investigations into his organization progressed. He is now awaiting proceedings related to his extradition to Spain.
The fictitious salaries are one of the financial leads in the investigation. A graphic arts company allegedly paid the suspect wages despite there being no genuine work in return. Police say the transfers were used to channel trafficking profits back into the legitimate economy.
A company to launder millions from hashish
The company, Artecar Soluciones Gráficas, belongs to Juan Andrés González Santos, who is also facing prosecution in the case. Court documents reviewed by El Español describe fictitious payslips issued since at least 2019, invoices and property purchases suspected of having been used to launder the proceeds.
The businessman, husband of Verónica Hidalgo, Miss Spain 2005, denies the allegations through his lawyer. The case recalls another money-laundering network linked to Moroccan hashish, in which shell companies were used to move the profits.
The organization imported large quantities of hashish from Morocco, then distributed them among storage apartments in Spain before supplying Spanish and European buyers. Investigators uncovered seven storage sites. Seizures now total 10.8 tonnes.
The latest tally puts the number of people arrested across several Spanish provinces at 86, including 18 who have been remanded in custody.
