Costa News Spain Breaking News | English News in Spain.
A MAJOR drug trafficking network in Spain concealed vast quantities of cocaine inside specially modified vehicles that had secret compartments with a capacity of up to 160 kilograms at one time.
Policia Nacional has arrested 26 people in a massive operation that spans several provinces. They were accused of being part of a criminal organization, trafficking drugs and money laundering.
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The operation was centered around vehicles that were modified to have highly advanced hidden spaces built into the structure.
Seven of the 16 vehicles confiscated by police had hidden compartments that were designed to transport drugs.
They were not simple hiding places. Officers claim that the compartments are equipped with advanced opening mechanisms, which can be used discreetly. This makes them difficult to detect in routine traffic stops.
Some of the compartments were capable of carrying up to 160 kilos of the illegal substance in a single journey – enabling traffickers to move large shipments while appearing to drive ordinary cars.
The vehicles were used as mobile vaults to transport cocaine from southern Spain into the capital without raising suspicion.
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Officials claim that the organization rented villas in Malaga, Sevilla and other locations to serve as bases of operations.
According to reports, the cocaine was stored and prepared on these properties before it could be loaded into modified vehicles.
Drivers transported the drugs to Madrid by road.
The group was able to blend in with affluent neighborhoods by renting luxury homes, while still preparing shipments out of sight.
Once in Madrid, the drugs were reportedly handed over in underground hotel car parks and private homes – locations with limited surveillance that were chosen for privacy.
Traffickers were able to unload large quantities without being noticed by using enclosed garages. The drugs were distributed from Madrid to other areas of Spain.
Police National carried out 18 raids, searches and arrests, with 26 people being arrested on suspicion of drug trafficking, money laundering and membership in criminal organisations.
Officers seized more than 460 kilos of cocaine, over €840,000 in cash and 16 vehicles during the operation.
Authorities say the case highlights the increasingly sophisticated methods used by organised crime groups to move drugs across Spain – relying on engineered vehicle modifications, rented properties and discreet urban handovers to stay under the radar.
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