Elite Goit Unit Uncovers Spain’s Most Complex Hideouts. The elite Goit unit breaks open hideouts containing bodies, drugs, and money across Spain. Their methods and technology enable them to expose even the most carefully concealed crimes.
In Spain, recent years have seen a sharp increase in complex investigations involving the search for hidden bodies, drugs, and large amounts of cash. An elite unit of the National Police — the Grupo Operativo de Intervenciones Técnicas (Goit) — plays a key role in these operations. This team, made up of fewer than 50 specialists, travels across the country to uncover caches beyond the capabilities of ordinary investigators.
Technology and expertise
Goit employs a unique combination of engineering knowledge, technical skills, and cutting-edge equipment. Their arsenal includes ground-penetrating radars, X-ray machines, underwater drones, video endoscopes, and heavy machinery. But even the most advanced devices cannot replace vigilance and experience: Goit officers are trained to notice the smallest details — from unnaturally white tile grout to freshly turned soil in a garden.
In 2025, the unit conducted 525 operations, 275 of which involved breaching doors. The rest were searches for hiding places in cars, homes, safes, on vessels, and at industrial sites. Over the past five years, the number of such operations has increased fivefold.
Investigations that shocked the country
One of the most high-profile cases was the disappearance of Parla resident Cándido Español. The perpetrator first buried his body in a garden, then tried to dissolve it in acid to destroy the evidence. Goit managed to recover only a fragment of a swimsuit and bone tissue, which became key evidence at trial.
In another operation in Seville, Goit officers broke open a recently renovated floor in a house, where under the concrete slab they found the bodies of three people, including a six-year-old girl. The investigation into this case became one of the most brutal in modern Spanish history.
Working at the limit
Searching for bodies on an industrial scale requires not only equipment, but also endurance. For example, during the search for the remains of an eleven-year-old boy at a landfill near Toledo, police had to sift through 10,000 tons of waste by hand. Only after changing tactics and analyzing the landfill’s logistics were they able to find all parts of the child’s body.
Goit also specializes in breaking into drug apartments—flats equipped for storing and selling narcotics. In Madrid and Seville, they open these doors in a matter of seconds so that criminals do not have time to destroy evidence. Sometimes, team members risk their health: in one case in the capital, they nearly suffocated from smoke when suspects tried to burn drugs and money.
Professions beyond the standard
The Goit team includes former engineers, locksmiths, welders, and builders. Their skills make it possible to quickly assess the strength of structures, locate hidden cavities, and open complex safes. One of the most experienced employees, Carlos Sende, notes that success depends on accuracy and the ability to "read" material—whether it is metal, concrete, or wood.
During one of the operations to inspect the vessel Little Girls, Goit specialists discovered hidden compartments specially equipped for transporting 4 tons of cocaine. This became one of the largest drug operations in recent years.
Methodical work and composure are essential qualities for working at Goit. According to group leader Inspector Ignacio López, only strict adherence to procedure and constant focus prevent mistakes, especially when searching for human remains or large drug shipments.
Issues of police safety and operational efficiency remain a priority for Spanish authorities. Against the backdrop of high-profile investigations related to crimes and detention conditions, the government is stepping up oversight and seeking new solutions. For instance, the director of a prison in Catalonia was recently dismissed after a series of tragic incidents, as detailed in the report on staffing changes in the penitentiary system.
