Significant Drug Trafficking Operation Between Morocco and Spain
The National Police of Spain has successfully dismantled one of the largest hashish trafficking networks linking Morocco and Spain, leading to the arrest of 86 individuals, including three in the city of Málaga. This extensive operation, which spanned seven provinces across Spain, resulted in the confiscation of nearly 11 tons of hashish and the capture of the network's leader in the Moroccan city of Tangier. This latest phase of the investigation, which began in early 2025, targeted a group known for smuggling thousands of kilograms of hashish from Morocco into Spain and distributing it throughout Europe. The operation revealed that the investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not ruled out further arrests or additional seizures, as stated by the General Directorate of the Police.
Details of the Arrests and Drug Seizures
The main suspect, who had been on the run since March after fleeing from a luxury residence in Madrid, was located and apprehended on August 8 in Tangier. He is currently in custody in Morocco, awaiting extradition to Spain. This individual was responsible for overseeing the logistics of the drug trafficking operation, which included negotiating with suppliers in Morocco, planning maritime and land transport, acquiring vehicles and properties for drug storage, and coordinating the activities of those involved in the collection, transport, custody, and distribution of the narcotics.
In Spain, the arrests included 65 individuals detained in Madrid, 10 in Guadalajara, five in Valencia, three in Málaga, and one each in Burgos, Almería, and Girona, all suspected of being part of a criminal organization involved in drug trafficking and money laundering. Eighteen of those arrested have been ordered to remain in custody by the National Court judge overseeing the operation. Authorities dismantled seven drug storage points and conducted 33 raids, with significant finds including 10.8 tons of hashish, 21.8 kilograms of marijuana, four illegal firearms, 25 vehicles, 15 luxury watches, and nearly 466,000 euros in cash.
The illegal substances were smuggled via the Spanish coasts from Morocco and transported to Madrid for safekeeping and subsequent distribution across Spain and Europe. Initial investigations revealed that the organization used encrypted messaging platforms to coordinate their criminal activities. The leaders managed drug entry by organizing transfers to rental homes and residential complexes that functioned as 'safe houses' for storage and distribution to smaller dealers. The operation also uncovered money laundering activities, which included fraudulently acquiring loans through proxy individuals, processing false payrolls, issuing counterfeit invoices through shell companies, and trading in luxury vehicles and properties.
One of the first locations identified and dismantled was a residence in the Madrid district of Las Tablas, where agents seized over 2.1 tons of hashish in December 2025. Following this, there was an initial wave of arrests targeting key members of the organization in March, though the main suspect managed to evade capture. By late June, authorities had dismantled two additional storage points, one located on the outskirts of Madrid where over 960 kilograms of hashish and 12 kilograms of marijuana buds were found, and another in the Sanchinarro district of Madrid, where one ton of hashish was seized. Subsequent raids also uncovered 4.6 tons of hashish in an industrial warehouse in Silla (Valencia) intended for transport to Madrid and an additional storage site in an attic in the El Cañaveral neighborhood of Madrid, yielding 2.1 kilograms of hashish.
As reported by malagahoy.es.
