Police seize almost €20 million from inspector linked to drug cartel. Police found nearly €19 million at the home of inspector Óscar Sánchez. The money was hidden in secret compartments, including a room behind a wardrobe and garden planters. The investigation is linked to a major drug trafficking network.
One of the largest cash concealment schemes has been uncovered in Spain: nearly 19 million euros were found by internal security department officers at the home of police inspector Óscar Sánchez, known as El Anodino. The money was hidden in specially designed caches—from false ceilings and fake walls to a ‘panic room’ behind a wardrobe and even garden sheds. As reported by EL PAÍS, this is the largest amount seized from a police officer in recent years.
The discovery began with a search of the family home in Villavilla (Madrid province), where Sánchez lived with his wife, who is also a police officer and a defendant in the case. The report, submitted to the National Court, details all the hiding places: bundles of cash were found in false ceilings, attic niches, behind walls, and even in a garden shed. In the 'panic room', access to which was disguised inside a closet, police found bags stuffed with 100 and 200-euro banknotes, as well as shoeboxes and bags from well-known brands.
During further searches at a holiday home in Dénia (Alicante), another 370,000 euros were found, of which 270,000 were hidden in a wooden beam outside, while the rest were in utility rooms and a wardrobe with a double bottom. In Sánchez's office at the Madrid police headquarters, nearly 800,000 euros were seized, most of it stored in a shoebox. In addition, 7,700 euros were found in his Mercedes Vito, and his crypto wallet held bitcoins worth about 175,000 euros at the exchange rate in November 2024.
The investigation began after Sánchez was arrested in November 2024. According to the investigation, the inspector, who previously headed the UDEF in Madrid, collaborated with Ignacio Torán's drug cartel, helping transport large shipments of cocaine and warning about police operations. The case materials include a document from Sánchez's mobile phone where he recorded sums of income, expenses, and even the theft of €1.2 million. According to investigators, the total amount that passed through his hands could have reached €30.5 million.
In March 2025, Judge Francisco de Jorge ordered Sánchez to be held accountable, but after a complaint from the prosecution, the decision was temporarily suspended until the investigation is completed. The inspector is currently in custody. His wife has also been charged with complicity and money laundering.
The court files amount to 369 pages and contain a detailed description of the money concealment schemes as well as Sánchez's ties to the criminal group. Investigators believe that since 2020, at least 73 tons of cocaine entered Spain through his channel, with one of the key episodes being the confiscation of more than 13 tons of drugs in Algeciras at the end of 2024.
Attention to large sums of cash found with government officials and business leaders in Spain has increased in recent years. For example, previously, tax authorities recorded transfers of budget funds to companies linked to well-known figures. Such cases highlight the importance of monitoring financial flows and ensuring transparency within public institutions.
For reference: UDEF is a police division specializing in combating economic and financial crimes. In recent years, Spain has tightened controls on large amounts of cash, and there are severe penalties for holding and moving undeclared funds. According to the Ministry of the Interior, investigations into corruption and links to drug trafficking remain a priority for the country’s law enforcement agencies.
