Major Drug Bust in Marbella: National Police Seize Over 1.8 Tons of Hashish
During a recent police operation, the National Police confiscated 1,868 kilograms of hashish and dismantled a criminal organization. The operation led to the arrest of five individuals involved in the storage and distribution of narcotics from a “nursery” house in Marbella, which were later supplied to the UK. The judge has ordered provisional imprisonment for three of the detainees.
Additional Charges and International Arrest Warrant
Among the charges leveled against the detainees, one of them was arrested due to an active International Arrest Warrant issued by British authorities. In addition to the hashish, the police operation also resulted in the seizure of 45 kilograms of marijuana, 580 grams of ketamine, numerous counterfeit documents, five vehicles, and 2,885 euros among other items.
Investigation Unveils Drug Trafficking Operation
The investigation began in the middle of last year, following the discovery of an organized group allegedly involved in the collection and distribution of drugs, which were later sent to the UK hidden among frozen food items.
Highly Specialized Criminal Organization
As the investigation progressed, the agents discovered the high degree of specialization of the organization. The members used fake documents to rent both houses and vehicles for their operations and took extensive counter-surveillance measures.
Increased Activity During Summer Season
During the summer season, the investigators noticed an increase in activity, with a constant flow of vehicles at the investigated house. On one occasion, the agents followed two cars, one acting as a “shuttle” and the other showing clear signs of being “loaded”, to a meeting point in Santiponce (Seville).
Transfer to Seville and Major Drug Seizure
At this location, the suspects handed over the suspicious van to two other individuals who moved it to a nearby warehouse. Inside the warehouse, the agents found 1,868 kilograms of hashish and 45 kilograms of marijuana, all prepared to be hidden in boxes of frozen broccoli and cauliflower to be transported to the UK.
Creation of a Front Company
The organization had created a fictitious company or front company, using straw men, to give a legal appearance to the cargo and carry out the activity with total impunity.
Final Phase of Operation and Arrests
The final phase of the operation took place last December, concluding the investigation with a total of five arrests for drug trafficking, membership in a criminal organization, and document forgery. One of the detainees escaped at the time of the arrests but was later intercepted by the agents, adding charges of assault on a law enforcement officer, traffic safety offense, violation of the foreigner’s law, and an international arrest warrant to his previous charges.
Collaboration and Further Seizures
In the search of the industrial warehouse, agents from the 3rd Group of the UDyCO and the UPR of the Sevilla Headquarters collaborated, completing the investigation with three other searches where 580 grams of ketamine, numerous counterfeit documents, five vehicles, 2,885 euros, and eight mobile phones were seized.
Three Detainees Sent to Prison
The Marbella Court of Instruction number 2 ordered the imprisonment of three of the detainees.
