Police make multiple arrests in Spain targeting notorious Irish drugs gang known as ‘The Family’ – CSN News

13 PEOPLE have been arrested in Spain as part of a major international operation targeting Ireland’s ‘The Family’ drug gang.

‘The Family’ is regarded as Ireland’s largest organised criminal organisation with police acting in simultaneous raids coordinated by Europol.

Five arrests were made by the Irish police on Monday. The leader of the gang, one of three brothers arrested, is being questioned.

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Guardia Civil reported that 20 crew members have been arrested by the Guardia Civil in Spain during the past year.

Detainees from Alicante and Castellon were arrested along with Colombians, Irish, and Spanish nationals.

Six people are currently still in custody- one of which one is a UK representative of ‘The Family’.

The year-long investigation resulted in the seizure of 314kg of coca and 220kgs of cannabis.

The Guardia said the gang used ‘sophisticated double bottoms in various vehicles including lorries and cars to transport the vacuum-packed drugs’.

The drugs – cocaine and marijuana- were taken to a Castellon warehouse where products were stored to simulate a legal cargo shipment.

The Guardia reported that “a heavy-duty tractor unit and a semi-trailer with Irish license plates was used to export drugs as they were destined for Ireland.”

The narcotics were hidden in false bottoms and the vehicle would normally leave the warehouse with half of its cargo so that other legal products could be loaded at a nearby outlet.

The long trip to Ireland began in France.

Goods worth over €1 million were seized by the Guardia, including 12 luxury cars, four international transport trucks, €35,000 in cash, a pistol with ammunition, four computers, and 35 mobile phones, as well as various documents.