• The network operated on a medium and large scale, having international ramifications.
• It is estimated that more than half a million euros were seized between drugs and cash.
• The main detainees are three brothers with full dedication to the distribution of narcotics

March 27, 2024.- Officials from the Customs Surveillance Service of the Tax Agency and National Police agents have arrested three men in the town of Teulada (Alicante) who are involved in drug trafficking on a small, medium and large scale. The value of the drugs and money seized in the operation is estimated at more than half a million euros, which has allowed the neutralization of this criminal group.

The actions begin after the deactivation, in previous months, of two criminal networks within the framework of various operations against drug trafficking that had revealed connections with another organization that could be engaging in the same illicit activities.

This information led to the Alicante town of Teulada, where the alleged perpetrators of the investigation would settle. The investigations in this town began with a series of surveillance and monitoring of the main suspects, according to the information handled by the National Police agents.

During the course of these investigations, a link was produced in the actions with the Regional Customs Surveillance Area of ​​the Tax Agency in Valencia, which was also investigating the plot, due to information received through other channels. From that moment on, the coordination of both investigations began to avoid duplication and act synergistically.

Those investigated turned out to be three brothers. The leader of the group was registered as a self-employed worker in the cleaning and gardening sector, although at no time during the investigation was he observed carrying out any work related to that sector of activity. The same thing happened with the rest of those involved, who were dedicated solely and exclusively to drug trafficking.

These individuals were perfectly specialized in their illicit activities and regularly carried out counter-surveillance maneuvers to detect possible monitoring by third parties, making the investigation at an operational level difficult and complex.

The suspects had links with other individuals who sent them narcotic substances through 'narco-boats' that landed on the Alicante coast.

Operational phase

Given the indicative elements of the illicit activity they were carrying out, the exploitation phase of the operation became imperative. Each and every one of the indications pointed to the participation of those investigated in drug trafficking and their membership in a criminal group, which is why the procedure that would lead to the exploitation phase was carried out.

The entries and searches of the different controlled addresses were carried out jointly by officials from the Customs Surveillance Service of the Tax Agency, agents from the Alicante Organized Crime Group I of the National Police and Greco Levante police.

At the time of the house search of the ringleader of the plot, his wife was present, a 30-year-old Moroccan who, at one point, rushed and attacked the Customs Surveillance agents, even trying to snatch the gun from one of them. The action could have been thwarted by the agents and this person was arrested for the crime of attacking a law enforcement agent.

During the searches, the vehicle usually used by the main suspect was seized, and more than a thousand euros in cash and several doses of cocaine were found inside, ready for direct distribution, which attested to direct sales for consumption.

The total amount of cash seized amounts to 42,535 euros and the quantities of narcotics are notable (795 grams of cocaine, three kilos of marijuana and 65 kilos of hashish), estimating a value for the seized effects of around half a million euros, over which can be added the cutting substance, scales, accounting notes and bladed weapons.

Transfer of drugs in a shopping cart

During the proceedings, investigators were surprised by one of the forms of drug transportation used by the organization. A shopping cart full of narcotic substance was detected in one of the homes that had previously been seen during surveillance when it was being transported by those investigated.

With the action, a criminal network with family ties dedicated to medium and large-scale drug trafficking mainly, but also to 'retail', is deactivated. The main suspect used his little brothers to hide a large amount of drugs in their homes, using them as 'nurseries' to avoid going to prison if he was discovered, since he had various previous records for drug trafficking.

As a result of the operation, four people have been arrested, three men and one woman, between 39 and 22 years old, who are charged with the crimes of drug trafficking and belonging to a criminal organization, having knowledge of all the actions and being taken into custody. of the Denia Guard Courts of Investigation.