A seven-year legal battle between Laureano Oubiña and the creators of the series Fariña has ended with an unexpected twist. Spain’s Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo) has overturned the ruling on compensation to the former drug lord, who demanded damages over a fictional intimate scene depicting him in the first episode. Oubiña claimed that his honor and privacy were violated, but the court sided with the producers.
In 2024, a court of first instance in Pontevedra ordered Oubiña to be paid 15,000 euros, recognizing that his rights had been infringed. However, the country’s highest judicial authority has now completely reversed this decision. The judges ruled that the scenes shown in the series did not go beyond artistic fiction and did not violate either the honor or private life of the former drug trafficker.
Arguments from both sides
Oubiña, now 79, insisted that the series portrayed him in an extremely negative light. His lawyer argued that after Fariña aired, his client’s life worsened: he began to be seen as a cruel, aggressive, and immoral individual. The lawsuit initially demanded 1.5 million euros, as well as the removal of the controversial scenes from the series.
The producers, the TV channel, and the streaming platform that aired Fariña insisted that the series is a work of fiction, not a documentary. They invoked freedom of artistic expression and emphasized that viewers can distinguish between fiction and reality. The prosecution also supported the creators’ position, noting that works of fiction are not held to the same standards of accuracy as news reporting.
Supreme Court’s Position
In its decision, the Supreme Court noted that Laureano Oubiña is a public figure, having been convicted of large-scale drug trafficking. The judges emphasized that public interest in his life and past is justified. Moreover, the series does not claim that the depicted events happened exactly as shown, and the project is presented as being based on real events, but with fictionalized elements.
The court also pointed out that the scenes Oubiña found objectionable were brief, contained no explicit footage, and were not crucial to the plot. The actors were clothed in these episodes, and the scene fit naturally into the narrative. The court held that the average viewer would not interpret these moments as an accurate portrayal of the real person’s private life.
Freedom of artistic expression
The court’s ruling specifically emphasizes that artistic freedom is protected by law. The standards of truthfulness required in journalism do not apply to works of fiction. The judges noted that even if a character bears the name and surname of a real person, this does not automatically violate their rights—especially if that person has already been convicted of serious crimes.
As a result, the Supreme Court not only overturned the compensation order but also the demand to remove the scene from the series. Thus, the creators of Fariña received full legal protection for their creative decisions, while Oubiña was left without satisfaction of his claims.
Reaction and consequences
The Supreme Court’s decision prompted widespread public response. Many saw it as an important precedent for protecting the freedom of artistic expression in Spain. At the same time, some argued that individual rights should be protected even in the case of controversial figures like Oubiña.
So far, the former drug lord himself has not commented on the court’s decision. Representatives of the production company and the TV channel expressed satisfaction with the outcome, noting that this ruling is important for the entire television and film industry.
In case you didn’t know, Laureano Oubiña is one of the most notorious drug traffickers in Spain’s history. His name is associated with large-scale drug shipments to Galicia in the 1980s and 1990s. After several high-profile arrests and long prison sentences, he became a controversial figure who continues to attract public attention. The TV series Fariña, released in 2018, is based on real events and tells the story of the drug trade in Galicia, with Oubiña playing one of its central roles.
