Published on: 25 Jun 2024
On 11 and 12 June, Europol supported more than 400 officers from French, Spanish and Turkish law enforcement authorities in dealing a major blow against a Spain-based criminal network. The network was trafficking large amounts of cannabis across Western Europe and is also suspected of trafficking heroin to the EU.
The large-scale law enforcement operation led to the arrest of 42 suspects – including the kingpin of the gang, who was in Spain under a false identity. In addition, 28 searches were conducted at several locations in Granada, Málaga and Sevilla, in both residences and drug production facilities. Six indoor marijuana plantations were also dismantled.
Overall, the action resulted in:
- 42 arrests
- 28 searches (20 in Granada, 6 in Málaga, 2 in Sevilla)
- Seizure of more than 2 tonnes of cannabis and several quantities of other drugs such as hashish
- Three firearms and a multitude of cartridges sized
- Seizure of a dozen luxury vehicles and more than EUR 100 000 in cash
Europol provided law enforcement authorities with analytical support to bring the investigation forward. On the action day, a specialist from Europol’s European Serious Organised Crime Centre was deployed on the spot, where they worked side by side with Spanish, French and Turkish authorities.
Shifting from heroin to other drugs
The investigation revealed that the criminals were specialised in the transnational trafficking of narcotics and had been importing drugs to Spain for years, including heroin but also large quantities of cannabis and hashish. Once in Spain, they would distribute them across the EU.
Heroin trafficking to the EU currently relies on the use of global container transport and ferries departing from Türkiye. This is because the criminal networks dominating the wholesale trafficking of heroin to the European market mainly originate from there.
Investigators believe that the criminal network began its cannabis trafficking after initially focusing on heroin. This shift to other drugs was flagged on the EU Drug Markets Analysis 2024 report as a potential result of the political changes in Afghanistan, the main source of the heroin consumed in Europe. In 2022, the Taliban announced a drug ban that led to market changes, precipitating a decrease in heroin availability in the EU that could lead to market gaps being filled by other drugs.
Law enforcement authorities involved:
- France: French Customs (Douane – Finances)
- Spain: Spanish Guardia Civil (Guardia Civil)
- Türkiye: Counter Narcotics Department of the Turkish National Police (Türk Polis Teşkilatı)
