Joint operation by the Tax Agency and the National Police

• Another 30 people have also been arrested and a total of 23 searches have been carried out, in which assets worth ten million euros have been seized.

• The "Wikipedia Narco", known for reporting his drug trafficking operations on the Internet, has a criminal career spanning more than 30 years

• A shipment of 1,165 kilos of cocaine, hidden in a sailboat travelling from Suriname to Valencia, has been seized, and another tonne of the same narcotic substance has been prevented from being sent.

April 20, 2024.- Customs Surveillance officials from the Tax Agency and agents from the National Police have dismantled a criminal drug trafficking network when it was transporting a ton of cocaine on the high seas. This is the largest criminal group based in the Spanish Levante region, from whom a shipment of 1,165 kilograms of cocaine was seized hidden on a sailboat travelling from Suriname to Valencia. In addition, a shipment of another ton of the same narcotic substance has been thwarted. A total of 31 arrests and 23 searches were carried out, resulting in assets worth ten million euros seized.

Among those arrested is the so-called "Narco of Wikipedia", the mastermind of the dismantled organization and with a criminal career spanning more than 30 years, known for telling his stories

drug trafficking operations on Internet portals. The investigation involved the collaboration of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) of the United Kingdom, the National Crime Agency (NCA) of the United Kingdom and the police forces of the Netherlands, France and Ireland, as well as CITCO, MAOC-N and the Spanish Navy.

1,165 kilos of cocaine seized on a sailboat

The investigation began in mid-2022, when several people close to the organization's leader were identified, who turned out to be experienced criminals from Eastern Europe. After intercepting the communications of several members of the criminal group, it was discovered that they had a boat that had been purchased for the value of one euro.

Thanks to police investigations and the discovery of various transactions, the agents located the sailboat in the Canary Islands. International police cooperation was key to developing surveillance and observing the members responsible for transporting narcotics on the transatlantic journey. In addition, the transfer of packages from one vessel to another was also observed, which is why the two sailboats were subsequently boarded.

Following the operation, 1,165 kilos of cocaine hidden in the boats were seized. During the course of the investigation, more than 300 surveillances have been carried out and more than 100 telephone lines have been intercepted.

Nearly ten million euros to run the organization

The mastermind behind the illicit drug trafficking operation was known for his extensive drug trafficking activities. He had almost ten million euros of financial capacity to manage the organization he led, thus managing to finance the transportation of cocaine and the expenses that this entailed, as well as the payment to the rest of the members of the organization.

In addition to his criminal career over the past 30 years, he was also known within the criminal world as the "Wikipedia Narco" for recounting his drug trafficking operations on various Internet portals. The main suspect had a second trusted person who was in charge of logistics and boat preparation, and was also the direct link with the crew.

The suspect, barricaded in his house, confronted the officers, pointing a shotgun at them.  Among the items seized following the searches were three boats valued at 4,200,000 euros, 44 vehicles, 40 brand watches, 60 works of art, 54 mobile phones, a virtual cryptocurrency wallet and three long weapons. 44 properties have also been seized and 74 bank accounts blocked. One of the greatest challenges of the investigation has been preventing the kidnapping and attempted murder of a member of the rival network in an attempt to settle scores.