A large-scale anti-drug operation in Spain has led to the dismantling of one of the most influential criminal networks in recent years. For Spaniards, this event signifies not only tighter control over drug trafficking, but also new challenges for national security. For the first time, details have emerged about the schemes that allowed the mafia to remain undetected by law enforcement for years.
Schemes and routes
At the center of the investigation was a modest-looking shop in La Línea de la Concepción, selling marine clothing and yacht equipment. Behind the legal business front operated a real hub for logistics and money laundering. From here, cocaine shipments from South America to Europe were coordinated, and profits distributed across different countries.
The network made use of modern drug boats, mother ships, and encrypted communication channels. Not only fast speedboats, but even semi-submersible vessels capable of crossing the Atlantic undetected were employed for transporting drugs. Routes ran through the Canary Islands, Morocco, and even Dubai, letting traffickers avoid direct encounters with patrols.
Technology and influence
The criminals had at their disposal not only dozens of boats and vehicles, but also the latest equipment for night operations. Drones, encrypted phones, and surveillance systems were used, making police work particularly challenging. During raids, tens of millions of euros, hundreds of mobile devices, and an entire arsenal of technical tools were seized.
Particular attention was drawn to a case where the mafia paid 12 million euros to the family of a deceased crew member to guarantee their silence. This level of financial capability highlights the scale and danger of the organization. Authorities note that such payouts are rare even among international criminal groups.
Arrests and scale
As a result of the operation, 105 people were detained, among them key coordinators of maritime transport and logistics. However, the main leader of the network managed to escape, and his whereabouts remain unknown. It is known that he moves between Dubai and Morocco, using these regions as bases for further activities.
The geography of the arrests covered not only Andalusia and the Canary Islands but also Galicia, Catalonia, and Portugal. During the searches, dozens of real estate properties, more than 70 vehicles, 30 vessels, as well as large amounts of cash and bank assets were discovered. The operation became one of the largest in the history of Spain’s fight against drug trafficking.
International cooperation
The investigation was conducted with the involvement of the Spanish police, the anti-drug prosecutor’s office, as well as international agencies—from the US DEA to Europol and Morocco’s intelligence services. The operation engaged analytical centers and maritime units, allowing authorities to block key supply channels and uncover new money laundering schemes.
Cooperation with the authorities of Portugal, France, Colombia, and Cabo Verde played a key role. Thanks to this, it was possible not only to detain members of the network, but also to seize record shipments of cocaine, including 6.6 tons being transported on a semi-submersible vessel off the coast of Portugal. An abandoned ship near Lanzarote was used as a base to store fuel and supplies, having been turned into a floating warehouse.
Context and consequences
In recent years, Spain has repeatedly been the site of major operations against international drug cartels. In 2024, authorities in Galicia thwarted a group using fishing boats to transport drugs from Latin America. In Andalusia in 2025, a network controlling hashish shipments via Morocco was dismantled. Each of these operations revealed increasingly complex schemes and international connections.
Experts note that modern criminal organizations actively adopt new technologies and use legitimate businesses as cover. This requires law enforcement agencies to constantly update their methods and expand international cooperation. Spain remains one of the key points on the drug trafficking route into Europe, and combating such networks is becoming ever more complex and costly.
