Joint operation by the Tax Agency and the National Police

• The main person responsible for receiving the drugs once they arrived in Spain has been arrested.

• The ring specialised in concealing the narcotic substance inside heavy industrial machinery exported in sea containers.

26 January 2023.- In a joint operation with National Police officers, Customs Surveillance officials from the Tax Agency have seized 266 kilos of cocaine hidden inside industrial machinery from Colombia and arrested the main person responsible for receiving the drugs once they arrived in Spain.The ring specialised in concealing the narcotic substance inside heavy industrial machinery which was exported in sea containers.

The investigation was initiated in early November last year through data collection in Colombia in the framework of the Maritime Security and Safety Project (SEACOP).The first investigations began when the agents became aware of the shipment, by a criminal organisation, of a cargo container from the Port of Cartagena (Colombia) to Barcelona.Inside the container, a high-pressure washer was being transported in which narcotic substances could be concealed.

Inspection by scanner

After the arrival of the shipment, the investigators carried out an initial inspection by means of a scanner, thanks to which they were able to detect numerous packages distributed inside the industrial structure.Given the obvious suspicions, the agents opened and dismantled the machinery, with the collaboration of the GOIT (Operational Group of Technical Interventions), and found 266 packages of cocaine hydrochloride inside, each weighing one kilo.

With all the information gathered, the agents were able to follow the trail to the company in charge of receiving the cargo, located in Gerona, where they arrested the main person responsible.