The “Risitas” clan was dismantled with the arrest of 20 people for international cocaine trafficking

The Spanish Civil Guard has dismantled a criminal organization dedicated to international cocaine trafficking, linked to the well-known “Risitas” clan, in an operation in which 20 people have been arrested after carrying out 22 searches in Algeciras, San Roque, Los Barrios, La Línea (Cádiz) and Marbella (Málaga).

The investigation has led to the arrest of the organization’s leader, who managed to escape during Operation “Kiken” in 2023, which resulted in the arrest of 30 people and the seizure of over 1,000 kilos of cocaine. However, the organization’s second-in-command remains at large.

Double bottoms in the undercarriage of sophisticated semi-trailers

Following Operation “Kiken”, the criminal organization acquired a company dedicated to road transport, with the aim of operating under a stable business cover and thus avoid raising suspicions and minimizing its exposure within the Port of Algeciras.

Unlike previous phases, in which cocaine was hidden in truck cabs, the clan evolved with a more sophisticated system. They used false bottoms under the semi-trailers, which they used both to smuggle in those responsible for opening the containers and to conceal the bales of cocaine during extraction and subsequent removal from the port.

This method allowed for more discreet lost hook operations, reducing the exposure of the extractors and avoiding visual checks in cabins or cargo depots.

445 kilogram haul in “Los Guijos”

During the investigation, the organization was linked to the seizure of 445 kg of cocaine in October 2025. This seizure took place in a warehouse in the Los Guijos Industrial Estate, where two members of the clan were caught red-handed while extracting the cocaine from the false bottom of the semi-trailer, convinced that they had the necessary logistics to act with absolute security.

Once the network’s locations and infrastructure were identified, agents carried out 22 house searches in the towns of Algeciras, San Roque, Los Barrios, La Línea, and Marbella. Twenty people were arrested, including “Risitas” himself, several truck drivers who provided direct support in the extraction operations using the lost-hook method, and dockworkers who supplied internal information and assisted the suspects’ movements within the Algeciras Port container terminal.

Their involvement allowed the organization to operate with a high degree of security, controlling movements at the terminals and reducing the risk of detection.

The investigation remains open to locate the second leader and other possible collaborators.

The operation has been carried out by the Organic Unit of the Judicial Police of the Civil Guard in Algeciras under the direction of the Court of Instruction No. 1 of Algeciras and the coordination of the Anti-Drug Prosecutor’s Office.