Joint operation between the Tax Agency, Civil Guard and National Police

• The operation, carried out in Madrid and on the island of Ibiza, has resulted in the arrest of a total of 42 people.
• 32 searches have been carried out with the seizure of 50 kilos of cocaine, 143 of hashish, 46 of marijuana, 38 of buds and 347,000 euros in cash, as well as different quantities of ecstasy and other synthetic drugs, as well as heroin and cutting substances.
• The members of the criminal network used 'hidden' vehicles and used parcel services to transport the drugs.

September 2, 2022.- The Tax Agency, the Civil Guard and the National Police, in a joint operation, have dismantled a criminal organization dedicated to importing large consignments of drugs from abroad through Spanish ports. The operation, carried out in Madrid and on the island of Ibiza, has resulted in the arrest of 42 people.

In addition, 32 raids and searches were carried out, in which 47 kilos of cocaine, 143 kilos of hashish, 46 kilos of marijuana, 38 kilos of buds, 347,000 euros in cash, as well as different quantities of ecstasy and other synthetic drugs, as well as heroin and cutting substances were seized. Four handguns, three long guns, cartridges of different caliber, various knives and brass knuckles, as well as 19 vehicles were also seized.

The operation began last year, when the police forces were carrying out separate operations against drug trafficking that ended up converging into a single investigation.

During the course of the investigation, it was possible to determine the existence of a criminal network operating in Madrid and Ibiza, with all its members interconnected. The modus operandi consisted of importing large quantities of narcotic substances from abroad through Spanish ports. Once in Spain, the drugs were transported to Madrid and from there to the island of Ibiza, using hidden vehicles and parcel shipments with false identification numbers.

To carry out their criminal activities, the alleged perpetrators had numerous warehouses, villas, apartments and storage rooms, where they hid large amounts of marijuana, large amounts of money and other types of narcotic substances.

Madrid: Cocaine shipments hidden in pineapples

The operation has been divided into several phases. Firstly, in August last year, a large package was intercepted upon entering the island of Ibiza, containing seven kilos of cocaine, 35 of hashish and 12 of marijuana.

As a result of coordination between police forces, it was possible to determine the route of the narcotic substance.

The organisation, on the one hand, introduced drugs through ports such as Algeciras, where shipments of cocaine hidden in pineapples have been seized, and on the other hand, the local production of other substances, such as marijuana and hashish, was added.

Continuing with the investigation, a new seizure of narcotic substance took place at the beginning of last month. It was 13 kilos of cocaine hidden in a vehicle with a false bottom upon entering the ferry in Ibiza.

In the latest raid, on August 24, 17 homes were searched in Madrid, resulting in the arrest of 16 people. 10 kilos of cocaine, 35 kilos of hashish and three marijuana plantations were seized. Also, four handguns, three shotguns and other knives, as well as 163,000 euros in cash, eight vehicles and luxury watches.

Ibiza Island: Ten drug sales points dismantled

On the island of Ibiza, the searches were carried out in the towns of Ibiza and San José, and 26 people were arrested. In the 15 searches carried out, three marijuana plantations with 1,000 plants were dismantled and 18 kilos of dried buds were seized.

In addition, ten drug selling points were dismantled, where various quantities of cocaine, hashish, ecstasy, pink cocaine and other designer drugs were seized. In addition, eleven vehicles and 178,000 euros in cash were seized. In this same operation, 31 kilos of cocaine, 35 kilos of hashish and 20 kilos of marijuana buds had already been seized in previous weeks when they were going to be introduced into the Balearic archipelago.