In a coordinated effort led by Europol, Spanish (Policía Nacional) and Colombian (Policía Nacional de Colombia) law enforcement agencies have successfully dismantled a large-scale cocaine-smuggling network.
The operation, conducted in June 2024, resulted in the arrest of 28 suspects, including members of the network led by a former paramilitary from Colombia’s disbanded ‘Bloque Central Bolívar.’
During the raids, authorities seized 47 kilograms of freshly processed cocaine hydrochloride, 20 kilograms of cocaine base, 2 kilograms of marijuana, and substantial quantities of chemicals used in drug processing. Additionally, EUR 245,000 in cash, 13 vehicles, and three firearms were confiscated.
The operation revealed the network’s innovative smuggling technique, where cocaine base was concealed within cardboard boxes containing legal cargo, such as fruit. These shipments were sent from Colombia to Málaga, Spain, where the cocaine was extracted and processed.
Europol provided critical support throughout the investigation, deploying specialists for forensic analysis and real-time data cross-checking. This operation is part of a growing trend identified by Europol and the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), highlighting the increasing sophistication of cocaine processing labs across Europe.
This successful takedown is a significant win for the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT), which continues to target organized crime networks affecting the EU.
