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National Police operations targeted criminal networks across Alicante, Badajoz, Cádiz, Granada, Málaga, Tarragona and Toledo. The groups were suspected of drug trafficking and adulterating nutritional products, with some items sold under temporary or forged brands. The seizures included more than 8 tons of nutritional products and nearly 400 kilograms of illegal drugs. An illegal pharmaceutical laboratory was dismantled and a legitimate lab shut down due to grave safety concerns. In total, 24 people were arrested. The operation benefited from cooperation with health and nutrition authorities at both state and autonomous levels where the actions took place. — National Police

The detainees formed a core organization made up of two intertwined criminal groups. Their main activities included smuggling products from abroad, especially anabolic substances, and defrauding buyers of nutritional items. By coordinating with wholesale suppliers, they established their own protein brands and, with supplier consent, altered product formulas, introducing trace amounts of prohibited drugs and risking consumer health. They also produced and marketed natural products that contained medicinal ingredients. A product withdrawn by the Spanish Medicines and Health Products Agency in 2013 due to significant health risks posed by ingestion is cited as an example. — National Police

The investigation began after the Bulgarian Attaché in Spain alerted Cádiz authorities to a shipment of large quantities of anabolic drugs sent through a parcel company. This sparked a thorough fact-finding process to confirm the claims. — National Police

There were more than a dozen outlets

Initial data analysis showed connections to other information already held by the National Police, linking certain buyers to a franchise that expanded rapidly beyond Cádiz into Málaga and Granada. After extensive surveillance, more than a dozen storefronts were identified as platforms for distributing drugs, anabolic agents and hormones. — National Police

As the inquiry progressed, the focus broadened from the franchise network to a wider operation involving the sale of naturally labeled products that actually contained drug substances withdrawn by the national medicines authority. Investigators traced the origin of the products and uncovered a second organized group based in Toledo, with ties to Badajoz. This group ran two companies covering the entire production chain from synthesis of the active substance to packaging, labeling and sale in sports supplement stores. — National Police

These companies also produced other nutritional goods such as protein and creatine on demand, often with formulations that did not match the labels. Among the customers were the stores within the scrutinized franchise, which had created their own brands. — National Police

Disputes over pricing and payments led to the relocation of franchised product production to Alicante, where a company planned to continue the same operations. — National Police

As part of the investigation, a sales point existed in Tarragona under the group’s umbrella, selling anabolic products as well. — National Police

During the operation, 24 people were arrested—10 in Málaga, 7 in Cádiz, 4 in Toledo, 1 in Alicante, 1 in Badajoz and 1 in Tarragona. Authorities conducted 37 searches across the same provinces. In total, more than 2,500,000 doses of illegal medicinal products (around 400 kg) were seized, along with tonnes of sports supplements flagged for consumer fraud. Cash assets included 390,000 euros, 690,000 euros blocked in bank accounts and 24,000 euros in various cryptocurrencies. Four vehicles, 53 stationary vehicles and 25 properties were seized, with the overall estimated assets of those investigated reaching around 7.5 million euros. — National Police

The detainees face charges related to crimes against public health, membership in a criminal organization, crimes against consumers and document falsification. — National Police