Spain Dismantles International Drug Trafficking Network Involving Morocco
MADRID – Spanish police, in coordination with Lithuanian and Irish authorities, have dismantled an international drug trafficking network that used Morocco and Latin America as primary departure points for narcotics shipments destined for several European countries.
According to Spanish media reports, the operation—overseen by Spain’s National Court—resulted in the arrest of nine individuals, including seven in Lithuania, one in Ireland, and one in Spain. Among those detained was the son of the network’s leader in Spain, who is believed to be the gang’s right-hand man and a key figure in the investigation. Authorities say he was directly involved in organizing several major drug shipments.
The operation also led to the seizure of large sums of cash, weapons, drugs, and forged documents, reflecting the sophisticated and expansive structure of the network. Law enforcement confiscated over two million euros in cash, seven firearms, 103 kilograms of marijuana, encrypted phones, and advanced surveillance evasion equipment.
Investigations revealed that the criminal group blended Moroccan hashish, Spanish marijuana, and Latin American cocaine, storing the shipments in Spanish warehouses before smuggling them by land and sea to various European destinations.
Authorities trace the roots of the case back to 2021, when 16 tonnes of cocaine were seized in the German port of Hamburg—a record-breaking drug bust in European history. The dismantling of this network follows a broader European crackdown on drug trafficking networks linked to Morocco, the world’s largest producer of hashish and the primary supplier for the European market.
