Joint operation by the Tax Agency and the National Police

• This operation dismantled the gang of six, all workers with links to companies that work in the port
• Seven home searches were carried out and 27,370 euros in cash was seized, along with 6 vehicles, encrypted mobile phones, and computer material

May 27, 2019.- Officials of the Tax Agency and agents of the National Police, in a joint operation that has had the collaboration of the Italian Financial Guard, have apprehended 5,000 kilos of cocaine housed in three containers in the port of Barcelona. This operation dismantled the gang of six, all workers with links to companies that work in the port. Seven home searches were carried out and 27,370 euros in cash was seized, along with 6 vehicles, encrypted mobile phones, and computer material.

Operation "Livorno" began in January this year, thanks to international collaboration with the Italian and Colombian authorities who reported the existence of containers bound for the port of Barcelona that could be carrying narcotics among their cargo. Upon arrival in the Port of Barcelona, the investigators verified this fact and seized two containers, the first holding 643 kilos of cocaine and the second 2,443 kilos.

After this seizure, the investigators arrested a Spanish citizen who is part of an organisation focused on recovering illegal goods arriving in Barcelona by shipping container. Subsequently, the investigations made it possible to intercept a third container in one of Barcelona's Port Terminals, this time holding over 2,000 kilos of cocaine. Two computer techs from the terminal placed the containers in easily accessible places so they could be removed from the port.

The new feature employed by the organisation consisted of using the two IT workers from the port to place the loaded containers in areas with lower security measures and to which members of the group under investigation had access. All the suspects were workers linked to transport in the Port of Barcelona and access control to a port terminal.

After pushing forward with the investigation, thanks to information obtained with the seizures, the group that has been operating in the Port of Barcelona and allowing large quantities of cocaine to enter the country, was completely dismantled. Six Spanish nationals were arrested as being principally responsible for this criminal organisation.

The investigation involved the seizure of numerous documents relating to these events, encrypted mobile phones, computer supports for study, six vehicles -including a lorry cab- as well as 27,370 euros in cash, resulting from seven search-and-entry operations.

This action highlights the work being carried out by the Agencia Tributaria's Customs Surveillance and the National Police in the fight against drug trafficking, working on dismantling these groups in Algeciras, Barcelona, and Valencia.

Footage of the operation (to download the video, please go to the following website):

https://we.tl/t-YIoz4SiwBg