• The operation is the culmination of several operations against drug trafficking in the southern district of Jerez carried out between 2024 and 2025.

• Three raids and searches have been carried out on homes and premises in Jerez and a fourth on a business in Guadalcacín with the appropriate judicial authorization

March 31, 2026. Customs Surveillance of the Tax Agency and the National Police have carried out a joint investigation in Jerez de la Frontera (Cádiz) on the laundering of money from the illicit business developed by the alleged ringleaders of a network dedicated to the trafficking and sale of drugs. Three raids and searches have been carried out on homes and premises in Jerez and a fourth on a business in Guadalcacín and two people have been arrested.

These interventions are derived from the so-called 'Escaleritas' and 'Fábrica' operations, carried out by the National Police in the vicinity of the San Telmo Viejo neighborhood with the aim of fighting against the sale of narcotic substances (heroin, cocaine and the mixture of both) in the streets of the neighborhood, as well as against the harmful social effects and degradation of coexistence and common security that they cause.

In these operations, in addition to hashish and cocaine, five kilos of heroin were seized along with bladed weapons and tools for handling and weighing the substances.

Following the proceedings, the alleged ringleaders were released with charges and precautionary measures, pending trial after paying their respective bail. The case is being heard in the Instruction Section of the Court of First Instance of Jerez de la Frontera Plaza Nº. 2, who has kept the investigation open regarding the destination and use of the money allegedly obtained illegally.

Investigations concerning alleged money laundering

During more than a year of complex asset investigation carried out by Customs Surveillance officials of the Tax Agency, with the support of National Police agents, the existence of an unjustified increase in assets of the individuals investigated was determined. Therefore, the investigators requested a court order to enter and search four properties in Jerez de la Frontera: the homes of the main suspects, leaders of a criminal organization, and business headquarters.

The operation was carried out from the early hours of Thursday, March 5, with the authorization of the head of the Instruction Section of the Court of First Instance of Jerez, Plaza 2, and with the support of a significant police deployment, with the participation of police intervention units, Goit, and canine guides specialized in the location of cash.

Thus, two men, the alleged ringleaders of the scheme, were arrested, and two homes and a hospitality establishment located in the city of Jerez and a catering business located in the nearby village of Guadalcacín were raided.

In these home searches, hidden cubicles were found in the walls, some in fake sockets distributed throughout the different rooms and others made directly in partitions and dividing walls. As a result, 8,000 euros were found hidden inside a wall, along with computer equipment and important documentation for the case.

The two detainees are accused of an alleged crime of money laundering. The investigation remains open in order to fully unravel the alleged criminal organization.