Dismantled in Spain a business network dedicated to drug trafficking and money laundering

Agents of the Spanish National Police and Customs Surveillance officials of the Tax Agency have dismantled in Valencia a business network allegedly dedicated to drug trafficking and money laundering, and have arrested 16 people in the provinces of Valencia, Madrid and Malaga, who are accused of belonging to a criminal organization. More than 420 kilograms of cocaine have been seized.

The investigation began in September 2019, when agents learned that an individual dedicated to the repair of vehicles and whose workshop had closed, was using the tax identification code of his previous business to import coconut fiber from Costa Rica.

The first steps made it possible to verify that the company went from occupying a ground floor with a workshop layout in the Valencian town of Torrent, to a large warehouse in the Alcácer Industrial Estate, in which there was hardly any activity. This place was more focused on buying and selling second hand vehicles than storing products. Its interior, however, was almost entirely empty.

The drug traveled hidden in 32 bricks hidden between the load

After these checks, the agents began to check the containers imported by this person, which allowed them to find out that the tons of coconut fiber that he received were stored in Alcácer without giving them any exit.

Subsequently, this company received two more containers of coconut fiber from the same exporter in Costa Rica. During the discharge, the police intervention took place, resulting in the seizure of 427 kilograms of cocaine and the arrest of those present, including the main investigated and his partner. The drug was hidden in 32 bricks of narcotic substances hidden among the cargo.

During the search of the warehouse, the enormous amount of coconut fiber collected caught the attention of the investigators. Despite this, it did not occupy a quarter of the capacity of the warehouse, which was also strange to them, since the monthly rent for the premises was of a much higher value than what was stored. In the registry, account books and annotations of expenses were found that indicated that the main investigated was being used by other people to import the substance.

He received financial contributions that served him to cover his expenses

In addition, finding himself financially bankrupt, he began to receive contributions through different channels, which served him to cover the costs of importing the containers, renting the warehouse and maintaining a humble standard of living. These were personal loans made by individuals and for the sale of a property in Paraguay to a relative, an operation with which the contribution of 50,000 euros was made up.

The analysis of all these data allowed to detect that, in addition, the current accounts from which the money was moved had been used for other operations, such as the acquisition of vehicles, the payment of fictitious payrolls and the acquisition and conditioning of a property in Valencia that it was going to be opened as a nightclub, in which more than 500,000 euros were invested.

Finally, after the seizure of the drug, the final exploitation of the operation was carried out. In addition to the 16 arrests, several searches were made, where abundant material was seized, highlighting stamps and documentation of shell companies and numerous documentation related to the organization’s companies. Four cars and three high-end motorcycles were also intervened.