Joint operation by the Tax Agency and the National Police

• The investigation has led to the seizure of 1,000 kilos of marijuana buds and 37 kilos of cocaine, the dismantling of two laboratories for the processing and distribution of drugs and the seizure of three submachine guns and several pistols, as well as luxury goods worth more than six million euros.

• The organization had a corporate structure in Spain, Colombia, Switzerland and Portugal to launder money from its criminal activities.

• The police operation, in which more than 200 agents participated, ended with the arrest of 24 people and the carrying out of 13 searches in the provinces of Madrid and Guadalajara.

June 4, 2022.- The Customs Surveillance Service of the Tax Agency, in a joint operation with Agents of the National Police, has dismantled an international criminal organization dedicated to drug trafficking linked to Mexican cartels. The investigation has led to the seizure of 1,000 kilos of marijuana buds and 37 kilos of cocaine, the dismantling of two laboratories for the processing and distribution of drugs, and the seizure of three submachine guns and several pistols, as well as luxury goods worth more than six million euros. In addition, as a result of this operation, European investigation orders and letters rogatory have been issued to other countries. The organization had a corporate structure in Spain, Colombia, Switzerland and Portugal to launder money from its criminal activities. The police operation, in which more than 200 officers participated, ended with the arrest of 24 people and the carrying out of 13 searches in the provinces of Madrid and Guadalajara.

The investigation began at the end of 2020 when the arrival in Madrid of several Mexican citizens from Sinaloa was detected, who quickly settled in different luxury homes. Shortly after, the agents observed that the new arrivals began to work on large marijuana plantations located in the province of Guadalajara, where they received repeated visits from people linked to drug trafficking.

A family clan linked to Mexican drug cartels

As the investigation progressed, the agents identified a family clan, linked to Mexican drug cartels, who had brought more than ten million euros in cash and investment gold into our country with the aim of settling in Spain. The suspects began to buy dozens of luxury vehicles and high-end homes, as well as to acquire several businesses and set up companies whose purpose, as would later be proven, was to channel the profits obtained from the sale of narcotic substances. Members of the organization also did not hesitate to buy the support of various officials to help them settle down and obtain documentation.

After several police investigations, it became clear that the family clan was associated with people, both Spanish and foreign, with criminal records and convictions linked to the sale of narcotic substances, thus facilitating their entry into a new market that was not theirs.

They had marijuana plantations that they exploited through companies established in Spain, Portugal and Switzerland.

Initially, the network based its business model on establishing companies in Spain, Portugal and Switzerland to exploit cannabis crops. In this sense, they had marijuana plantations in different provinces of Spain, the purpose of which was the extraction of CBD-derived products in laboratories in Switzerland and Portugal. After arduous efforts, the agents seized 60 tons of plants, a fact that motivated the organization invest in new cultivation systems based on the creation of containers with intelligent that would allow them to obtain harvests in less than three months. Some of the Mexican members of the criminal group tried to acquire this business for a significant sum of money, although police actions thwarted their efforts.

Investigators later located several warehouses where the processed marijuana, which had been grown in large greenhouses measuring more than 4,000 square meters, was vacuum-packed and distributed to buyers by various means, hiding it in false bottoms of tables and other furniture that were sent by courier.

They introduced cocaine base in coffee packages through 'mules'

During the course of the investigation, the agents detected the arrival in our country of people from South America, whom the organization used as 'mules' to introduce cocaine base in packages of coffee. The drugs were processed, packaged and screen-printed in two laboratories in the province of Madrid and then sold to people from Croatia and Holland with whom they had previously closed deals. In addition, they also had other distribution networks through Chinese citizens and other sellers, located in different locations in Madrid, who even introduced the narcotic substance into penitentiary centers.

On the other hand, the investigation has shown an overwhelming movement of capital. They constantly changed homes (all of them luxury) and dedicated themselves to the purchase and sale of jewellery and sports cars whose prices exceeded 500,000 euros. This was done to launder the profits they obtained illegally and was also a security measure to avoid being located in a specific area.

24 arrests and 13 searches in the provinces of Madrid and Guadalajara

In mid-May, the police carried out a police operation in which more than 200 officers participated. The operation led to the complete dismantling of the organization and the arrest of those responsible, locating a cocaine laboratory in the home of the ringleader in the process of producing more than 37 kilos of the substance.

They also carried out 13 searches in different locations in Madrid (eight) and Guadalajara (five), and eight inspections in the provinces of Madrid (five) and Malaga (three). As a result of the searches, officers seized 1,000 kilos of marijuana buds, 37 kilos of cocaine, ten weapons, 105,116 euros in cash, as well as 17 vehicles and four homes (valued at seven million euros), among other items. In addition, two laboratories for processing cocaine and two greenhouses used for growing marijuana have been dismantled as a result of the operation, and 20 bank accounts have been blocked.