A criminal group that smuggled cocaine hidden in pieces of marble through Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport has been dismantled
Spanish National Police officers, in a joint operation with the Customs Surveillance Service of the Spanish Tax Agency and the Brazilian Federal Police, have dismantled a criminal network allegedly dedicated to smuggling large quantities of cocaine into Spain, hidden inside marble pieces from Brazil. To mask the smell of the drugs in the air freight containers, they used perfumes and air fresheners to avoid police detection. Three people have been arrested in the operation, two of whom have been remanded in custody, and nearly 1,500 kilos of cocaine have been seized.
Test shipments and perfume in the drug
The investigation began last November when agents became aware of the possible existence of a criminal network dedicated, allegedly, to the introduction of large quantities of cocaine into our country.
Following initial inquiries, agents discovered that the suspects used several seemingly legitimate companies, both in their countries of origin and in Spain, to import drugs without raising suspicion. As part of their security measures, they made a test shipment of five containers, containing bricks instead of narcotics, to determine if such shipments were under police surveillance.
Once the route was secured, the shipments were transported by air and, upon arrival at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, were transferred by road to various industrial warehouses located throughout Spain. The members of the organization also impregnated the merchandise with perfume and air fresheners to try to mask the smell of the drugs and hinder their detection.
As a result of international police cooperation with Brazilian authorities, 1,200 kilograms of cocaine were seized at the Belo Horizonte Airport in Brazil, where the substance was hidden in marble tables destined for Spain.
Narcotic substance hidden in marble sinks
Simultaneously, using another seemingly legitimate company, they attempted to recover a shipment of marble sinks that was awaiting customs clearance at the cargo terminal of Madrid’s airport. This shipment was transported by road to an industrial warehouse located in Vilanova i la Geltrú, Barcelona, where a search warrant was executed with the participation of the Special Operations Group (GEO) and the Special Operational Security Group (GOES).
The investigation culminated in the arrest of two men, who destroyed their mobile phones when they were surprised by the police operation, and the seizure of 250 kilos of cocaine, divided into 221 packages hidden in marble countertops and sinks, a van, a truck, four mobile phones and 4,885 euros.
Later, another member of the group was arrested, bringing the total to three arrests, who were brought before the court as alleged perpetrators of a drug trafficking offense and belonging to a criminal group, with two of them being remanded in custody.
