• The operation has led to the eradication of a hotspot for the sale and distribution of cocaine and hashish in the city of Santander.

• During the search and seizure of the suspects' residence, 945 grams of cocaine, 998 grams of hashish, 11,750 euros and several bladed weapons were seized.

August 20, 2026. Customs Surveillance of the Tax Agency in Cantabria and the National Police have concluded a joint investigation in which two people have been arrested as alleged perpetrators of crimes against public health and money laundering.

The operation began in early 2026, when the group specializing in the investigation of crimes against public health received various reports about an individual who might be involved in the sale and distribution of narcotic substances, both in Santander and in other Cantabrian towns. The news reports about this person attributed to him the sale of cocaine in 'small quantities', and even in larger quantities that could reach up to 500 grams of the drug.

With this initial information, the agents began the process of identifying this person, verifying the veracity of their alleged illicit activity and, if necessary, dismantling this drug distribution point.

The investigators' intense and detailed work bore fruit from the beginning, allowing them to identify the individual referred to in the information, as well as confirming that he was dedicated to the sale of narcotic substances, focusing much of his activity in the vicinity of his home, located in an area near the sports field on Los Castros Avenue.

During the investigation, the agents witnessed the constant adoption of various security measures by the suspect to detect any possible police presence, as well as to avoid being the object of their surveillance or monitoring.

The specialization and professionalism in the sale and distribution of narcotic substances at the 'retail' level carried out by the investigated party, as well as the fact that his standard of living did not correspond to his work activity. Therefore, the continuation of the investigation was coordinated with Customs Surveillance of the Tax Agency in Cantabria, in order to determine the possible commission of a money laundering offense.

The police operations established from the beginning of the investigation, together with the rest of the procedures carried out, made it possible to gather sufficient evidence and proof of the involvement of the suspect and the romantic partner with whom he lived, in the crimes of drug trafficking and money laundering.

Arrests and seizure of drugs and money

At that point, on August 6, a coordinated operation was carried out by Customs Surveillance and the National Police, in which, after obtaining judicial authorization, the search and seizure procedure was carried out at the home of the suspects, located in Santander.

For the development of this operation, the investigators had the support of other Units, such as the Special Operational Security Group (GOES), specialized in qualified security interventions. The operation resulted in the arrest of the man under investigation and his romantic partner, as alleged perpetrators of crimes against public health and money laundering.

During that procedure, the following were seized: 945 grams of cocaine (of which 922 grams were distributed in eight vacuum-sealed bags and the rest in smaller packages), 998 grams of hashish, 11,750 euros, several bladed weapons and other items of police interest.

Placement at the disposal of the court

Once the search and seizure operation was completed, the detainees were transferred to the premises of the Cantabria Police Headquarters.

Once at the police station, they were taken into custody by investigators. The woman was released at the end of the proceedings, while the man was placed at the disposal of the competent judicial authority, who ordered his imprisonment.