Spanish Customs Surveillance of the Tax Agency and National Police, as well as the National Police of Ecuador, are carrying out a joint operation in both countries, taking place simultaneously 21 entries and registrations in Spain and 56 in Ecuador.
Article continues below
The operation, developed by the Madrid Regional Customs Surveillance Area and the General Judicial Police Station, has had the collaboration of Europol, being coordinated by the Special Anti-Drug Prosecutor's Office, in cooperation with the Special Prosecutor's Office against Transnational Organized Crime of Ecuador , all through the Ibero-American Anti-Drug Prosecutors Network (RFAI) and the Central Investigative Court number one.
A total of 30 people who were part of a criminal organization based mainly in the province of Malaga (Spain) and in Guayaquil (Ecuador), responsible for the introduction and distribution of large consignments of cocaine in Europe, have been arrested so far. press from South America by sea, as well as the investment of illicit profits in Spain.
In addition to the actions in these two places, registrations are being carried out in Barcelona, ​​Madrid, Valencia, Seville, Granada and Cádiz, as well as in other locations in Ecuador.
The organization had extensive experience in the introduction of large quantities of cocaine into Europe using innovative techniques to escape established controls and counting on a complex international business network, which allowed it allowed to introduce illicitly obtained benefits into the legal circuit.
This organization would be responsible for the attempted introduction of at least 3,200 kilos of cocaine into Europe, which originated in Ecuador and was destined for different European ports.
In addition to the arrests of the main perpetrators, and as a result of the operation, more than 400,000 euros in cash have been seized so far, a large number of properties valued at more than 13 million euros have been blocked in Spain, as well as high-quality vehicles. range and luxury watches, and the blocking of financial products.
With this coordinated action in both countries, the complete structure of this complex criminal organization is dismantled, which controlled all phases of the production, transportation and sale of the illicit substance, as well as the subsequent laundering of funds, counting on experts in creating this type of financial structures to channel those benefits.
The development of this operation has been financed with the Internal Security Fund of the European Commission. The operation remains open and new arrests are not ruled out. ■