Spanish and Portuguese authorities have seized more than 3.3 tons of cocaine in a joint operation targeting an alleged international drug-trafficking network operating between the two countries.
Three people were arrested in the operation, carried out on August 13 following a joint investigation. Two suspects were detained in Spain and one in Portugal.
The suspects are accused of several offenses, including membership in a criminal organization, drug trafficking, illegal possession of firearms, assaulting police officers and road-safety violations.
The investigation began after Spanish authorities received information that a van was transporting a large quantity of drugs from Portugal toward Spain’s Costa del Sol.
Investigators traced the suspected operation to a property in Torremolinos, where they discovered a large quantity of cocaine. Police also began monitoring vehicles believed to have been used to transport and store the drugs.
One of the vehicles was tracked to Marbella, where police stopped it and found approximately 2,000 kilograms of cocaine. One person was arrested.
A simultaneous search of the property in Torremolinos resulted in the seizure of another 1,700 kilograms of cocaine. A second suspect was arrested at the location, where police also found a loaded handgun.
Seizure in Portugal
The operation was also extended to Portugal, where the Portuguese Judicial Police identified the van allegedly used to transport the drugs as it was returning toward Spain.
The vehicle was stopped and its driver was arrested. Approximately 1,500 kilograms of cocaine and two long-barreled firearms were found inside the van, making the driver the third person arrested in the operation.
In addition to the drugs and weapons, authorities seized a total of three firearms, two vehicles and approximately €1,100 in cash.
Investigators also recovered surveillance cameras, night-vision equipment and communications devices during the searches. The equipment is being analyzed as authorities investigate how the alleged international trafficking network was organized and operated.
