In October 2025, one of the largest police operations in recent years unfolded on the Costa del Sol. It all began with the kidnapping of a Moroccan citizen in Marbella, who was freed five days later in the Axarquía region. At the same time, in Benalmádena, two Swedes narrowly escaped becoming victims of an armed attack. Although these incidents initially seemed unrelated, it soon became clear that the same car was involved in both cases. The investigation led authorities to a French criminal gang involved not only in kidnappings and assaults, but also in large-scale drug trafficking.
On October 15, 2025, police wrapped up three parallel operations, detaining 17 suspects. During searches in Estepona, they uncovered 21 firearms and a significant stockpile of ammunition. In addition, nearly 400 kilograms of hashish were seized. All the confiscated items were displayed at the Málaga police station, where it became evident: this was an extremely dangerous and well-armed gang.
New tactics and international cooperation
Over the past month, seven major operations have been carried out in the region, resulting in 55 arrests, the seizure of nearly nine tons of drugs, and 40 vehicles. Police are particularly concerned by the amount of weapons found—37 firearms in a single month. According to police representatives, criminal groups are becoming more sophisticated, and investigations now require not only time, but close cooperation with international counterparts.
Among the crimes uncovered were not only drug trafficking, but also extortion, kidnappings, and armed attacks. The French gang that was taken down specialized in transporting and selling narcotics, but also took on other high-risk ‘jobs’ for profit. In one of the apartments in Estepona, police found an arsenal that had been used in an attempted murder of two Swedish citizens in December 2024. As it turned out, a reward had been placed on their heads in Sweden, and the criminals were trying to collect money for carrying out the hit.
Operations across the entire province
In addition to high-profile arrests, police uncovered several other incidents. During Operation Bolero, three suspects were detained while two remain at large. They attempted to rob a man in a supermarket parking lot in Málaga, shooting him to steal a bag of cash. In Operation Kuni, 2.5 tons of hashish and 14 weapons were seized, including three assault rifles. Nine members of this group are already in prison.
As part of Operation Marisma, carried out jointly with colleagues from Barcelona, authorities discovered 1.6 tons of hashish and arrested five people who were smuggling large quantities of cannabis to Catalonia and then on to other EU countries. Another operation, Tomato, began with surveillance of a sales point in the Bailén-Miraflores district and led to the discovery of two hideouts with 170 kilos of cocaine in Campanillas. Nine people have already been arrested in this case.
Rising crime and new challenges for police
The situation on the Costa del Sol remains tense: criminal groups use the region as a strategic hub for drug transit and conducting dangerous operations. Police note that combating these organizations requires constant updates in methods and resources. Despite some successes, law enforcement emphasizes that each new operation is a challenge, as criminals are becoming increasingly organized and armed.
