Operation of the Tax Agency, National Police and National Police of Ecuador with the collaboration of Europol

• 21 searches and registrations are being carried out simultaneously in Spain and 56 in Ecuador

• More than 400,000 euros in cash, a large number of properties, high-end vehicles and various financial products have been seized so far.

February 6, 2024.- Customs Surveillance of the Tax Agency and the National Police, as well as the National Police of Ecuador, are carrying out a joint operation in both countries, simultaneously carrying out 21 entries and searches in Spain and 56 in Ecuador.

The operation, carried out by the Regional Customs Surveillance Area of Madrid and the General Commissariat of Judicial Police, has had the collaboration of Europol, and was coordinated by the Special Anti-Drug Prosecutor's Office, in cooperation with the Specialized Prosecutor's Office against Transnational Organized Crime of Ecuador, all through the Network of Anti-Drug Prosecutors of Ibero-America (RFAI) and the Central Court of Instruction number one.

A total of 30 people have been arrested so far who were part of a criminal organization based mainly in the province of Malaga (Spain) and in Guayaquil (Ecuador), responsible for the introduction and distribution of large shipments of
in Europe Press release from South America by sea, as well as the investment of illicit profits in Spain. In addition to the actions in these two places,
are being carried out in Barcelona, Madrid, Valencia, Seville, Granada and Cadiz, as well as in other locations in Ecuador.

The organization had extensive experience in introducing large quantities of cocaine into Europe using innovative techniques to evade established controls and relying on a complex international business network that allowed it
introduce
illicitly obtained profits into the legal circuit.

This organization would be responsible for the attempted introduction of at least 3,200 kilos of cocaine into Europe, which originated in Ecuador and were destined for different European ports.

In addition to the arrests of the main perpetrators, the operation has resulted in the seizure of more than 400,000 euros in cash, the blocking of a large number of properties in Spain valued at more than 13 million euros, as well as high-end vehicles and luxury watches, and the blocking of financial products.

With this coordinated action in both countries, the entire structure of this complex criminal organization is being dismantled. It controlled all phases of the production, transportation and sale of the illicit substance, as well as the subsequent laundering of the funds, relying on experts in the creation of this type of financial structures to channel these profits.

The development of this operation has been financed by the European Commission's Internal Security Fund.

The operation is still ongoing and further arrests are not ruled out.