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Seized cocaine shipment. PN
A fruit company from Elche and cassava boxes from South America, the front for a gang trafficking cocaine

A fruit company from Elche and cassava boxes from South America, the front for a gang trafficking cocaine

The National Police have dismantled a criminal organisation that introduced drugs through the ports of Valencia and Algeciras | A total of 12 people have been arrested in Seville and Alicante

Óscar Bartual Bardisa

Alicante

Viernes, 3 de enero 2025, 14:35

The National Police have dismantled a criminal organisation operating from Alicante, trafficking cocaine on an international scale. A total of twelve individuals have been arrested, and 1,450 kilos of cocaine have been seized, hidden in fruit containers managed by a company based in Elche.

The kidnapping of a person last July in Seville by members of this organisation led to the identification of the drug trafficking gang and the determination of each member's role. This marked the beginning of Operation 'Lups/Saim', which has successfully dismantled a gang that introduced large quantities of cocaine into Spain through the ports of Valencia and Algeciras, according to sources close to the investigation.

They did so through shipments of frozen cassava from South America, where more than a tonne and a half of this drug was found. The containers were managed by a company based in Elche and Seville, used as a front to hide cocaine within fruit containers.

The investigation led to the identification of this network of fruit and vegetable companies. In fact, during last November, several fruit containers imported by the criminal organisation through several of these companies were inspected, resulting in the seizure of 1,450 kilos of cocaine.

Following the seizure of this drug, a controlled delivery was carried out, and a surveillance operation was established, starting in Algeciras and culminating in the arrest of many members of the organisation just as they were about to unload the merchandise in a warehouse owned by these companies and located in Redován.

Intervention

Subsequently, eight raids and searches were conducted in several luxury villas and homes of the detainees, as well as in the businesses. Specifically, five were in the province of Seville and three in Elche. During these searches, several firearms and other drugs such as hashish or marijuana were seized, along with 20,000 euros in cash and 5,000 pounds sterling.

Additionally, the police managed to recover a stolen vehicle and other items used, such as encrypted phones, jammers, night vision equipment, or a taser gun. The seized drugs would have fetched over 40 million euros on the market.

As a result of the police operation, twelve people were arrested, charged with alleged crimes including membership in a criminal organisation, drug trafficking, kidnapping, assault, and illegal possession of weapons, with the court ordering the imprisonment of ten of them.

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todoalicante A fruit company from Elche and cassava boxes from South America, the front for a gang trafficking cocaine