• The cocaine was hidden inside the iron plate of a device used to heat large quantities of water.

• Four people related to the criminal organization were arrested and drugs, cash and three vehicles were seized

January 23, 2025.- The Customs Surveillance Service of the Tax Agency and the Civil Guard of Castellón, in a joint operation, have arrested four people as alleged perpetrators of a crime of drug trafficking, money laundering and belonging to a criminal organization. In addition, 50 kilos of cocaine hidden inside an industrial unit, along with cash and three vehicles were seized.

Within the framework of its strategic objectives to combat drug trafficking, the Customs Surveillance Service of the Tax Agency in Castellón and the Command of the Civil Guard in the same province have directed and promoted the operation 'Placas/Magdalena CS'.

The operation took place on January 20, during a surveillance operation between the Tax Agency and the Organic Unit of Judicial Police of the Civil Guard, when a shipment was detected by sea transport from Colombia via the port of Rotterdam, suspected of transporting high-purity cocaine hidden inside an industrial air conditioner.

Once the merchandise was received at the port of Grao de Castellón, the narcotic was transported to a farmhouse in the capital of La Plana, where a person acting as a front man took charge. This person, in turn, made the drug available to the criminal organisation, which tried to transport it to a car wash in the town of Oropesa del Mar, with the drugs being intercepted by investigators before they reached the establishment.

Performance

Once the criminal offence was thwarted, a search was carried out in the car wash, obtaining evidence of the specific machinery that this organisation had to carry out the cutting of sheet metal and the subsequent welding of the machines. The officers had to use angle grinders and other cutting and impact tools to gain access to the interior and extract the fifty kilos of cocaine.

The investigation and analysis of the lifestyle of those involved revealed that their high standard of living was not compatible with their income. In this regard, the researchers discovered that the organization had high-end vehicles and a significant amount of spending on leisure and travel.

A total of four people aged between 21 and 52 have been arrested and charged with drug trafficking, money laundering and membership in a criminal organisation.

Several searches were carried out, resulting in the location and seizure of 50 kilos of cocaine, cash and three high-end vehicles, as well as clothing from prestigious brands.

The operation was carried out by the Combined Customs Surveillance Unit of the Tax Agency in Castellón and the Organic Unit of Judicial Police of the Civil Guard of Castellón, together with the support of components of the Canine Service and Citizen Security of the Civil Guard of Castellón.