The Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil), with the support of Europol, broke up a large drug trafficking network in an investigation that includes Bulgaria, Colombia, Costa Rica and Panama, and some of its members include citizens of our region. The suspects allegedly participated in the reception and wholesale of cocaine throughout the European Union and in money laundering. The operation was coordinated by Europol’s operational working group, Europol announced.
The network extends to Latin America, Europe and the Middle East
The investigation, launched in June 2022, revealed this drug trafficking network operating on three continents. Members of the network – citizens Albania, Bulgaria, Colombia and Spain – they organized the smuggling of large quantities of cocaine from the country of origin to Europe. Each of them took on different roles within the logistics chain, according to the announcement.
“Citizens of Colombia managed shipments from Colombia to Europe, while citizens of Bulgaria, Colombia and Spain supervised the reception and further distribution of drugs. The rescuers hid in a container in order to sneak into the port and with the help of corrupt workers during the night they got the cocaine out. The Albanian members of the group, based in Dubai, acted as investors – they secured the funds needed to pay for the shipments of producers from Colombia. Members of the network also laundered the proceeds of their crimes,” Europol said.
Intelligence indicates that the criminal network had the capacity to receive up to one ton of cocaine per week. Shipments were made by air cargo and sea containers. In October 2024, authorities seized 4.1 tons of cocaine in Panama, bound for Spain, linked to this network. The network is allegedly linked to a total seizure of over seven tons of cocaine. In addition, law enforcement authorities have seized another two tons of cocaine in Spain since the investigation began, it said.
Results of the action implemented in three phases, from December 2024 to January 2025.
The operation included 22 arrests in Spain, of Spanish and Colombian citizens. 27 buildings in Barcelona, Cádiz, Madrid, Malaga and Valencia were searched.
Seizures include about 1 ton of cocaine and 5 kg of ‘tusi’ (pink cocaine), 35 vehicles, including 8 luxury cars with an estimated value of around 2.5 million euros, luxury watches and jewelry with an estimated value of around 1.5 million euros and 6.5 million euros in cash.
48 weapons were also confiscated – 5 long barrels, 5 pistols and 38 old type weapons.
53 bank accounts were frozen.
Europol’s support and operational working group
The increase in cocaine deliveries from South America to Europe, as well as the penetration of criminal networks into legal and illegal businesses in the EU, prompted the establishment of the Operational Working Group at Europol, which monitored criminal networks in source countries and along the distribution chain. During the investigation, Europol coordinated the exchange of information between national authorities, bringing them together to effectively target the entire drug trafficking network. In addition, Europol has ensured continued intelligence development, analysis and digital forensics expertise to support investigators. This intelligence gave law enforcement agencies a complete picture of a secret network operating in various countries and continents. On the day of the action, Europol sent experts to Spain to provide analytical and technical support to officers on the ground, Europol announced.
(TYPE/Source: N1/Photo: Europol)
