This week, Irish and Spanish law enforcement authorities dismantled one of Ireland’s high-risk criminal networks.
In a coordinated operation, An Garda Síochána and Spain’s Guardia Civil arrested 12 suspects — six in Ireland and six in Spain — linked to large-scale drug trafficking.
The criminal group was involved in smuggling cocaine and marijuana from Spain to Ireland, using vehicles with custom-made secret compartments and cloned number plates. Their operations were scrutinized after law enforcement took down the Ghost encrypted communication platform in September 2024. Despite using multiple encrypted channels to avoid detection, investigators traced several Ghost user handles to network members.
The arrests were part of Operation Pereira, with significant evidence collected, including drugs, cash, and equipment used in smuggling operations.
Europol has supported this investigation since November 2023, providing expertise and intelligence that helped piece together the organization’s structure. On the action day, Europol deployed mobile offices in both countries to help secure and analyze evidence on-site. The operation was also supported by the EU-funded @ON Network, which facilitated cross-border collaboration between Irish and Spanish authorities.
