In a coordinated operation conducted by the national police with support from Customs Surveillance, sixteen individuals were arrested in the Canary Islands. The group is alleged to have links to neo-Nazi networks and violent football factions, and to have masterminded a trafficking scheme for hormonal anabolic drugs sourced from Bulgaria, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.
Authorities estimate that the network imported nearly a metric ton of anabolic substances over the past year. This substantial volume underscores the scale of the operation and the potential risks to public health and safety across multiple regions.
People close to the investigation told the press that the sixteen suspects were well connected through ties to extremist groups and aggressive football crews. One of the principal inspectors in Madrid who received shipments is associated with the leadership of Ultra Sur, a faction linked to Real Madrid supporters, according to early statements from investigators.
The probe began in April of the previous year after initial reports indicated drug smuggling activity involving anabolic hormones. The activity appeared to exploit parcel routing methods from Bulgaria and Portugal into Spain, complicating detection by authorities along road networks.
The operation traced the flow of goods into Spain, identifying two cells that received shipments in Madrid and A Coruña. In Madrid, for instance, the handling of the illicit consignments was carried out by a network participant who is closely linked to the extremist circles under scrutiny.
Subsequent shipments were directed to the Canary Islands using postal channels as a means to dodge border controls and to obscure the path of the consignments through third-party intermediaries.
In Tenerife, a separate cell delivered anabolic drugs to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. Investigators who spoke with EFE described how a sports nutrition supplier’s store was found to be involved in managing the products, suggesting a legitimate front used to mask illicit activity.
After nearly a year of investigative work conducted by specialist teams from the Violence and Special Crimes Unit and the General Information Police Station, the operation culminated on 22 March with the arrest of sixteen individuals across Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Tenerife, Madrid, and A Coruña. Those detained are accused of membership in a criminal organization and offenses against public health linked to the trafficking of controlled substances.
During a series of searches, officers recovered about 250,000 doses of illegal anabolic products, along with other narcotics, cash, and computer equipment used to analyze and document the shipments. Authorities also seized extensive records detailing the movement of goods by the network, including inventory lists and logistics notes that trace the route from source countries to distribution points.
The detainees were remanded into the care of the corresponding judicial authorities across the affected jurisdictions, which are overseeing the proceedings in coordination with the regional judicial bodies. The case is being processed under the relevant criminal codes that govern public health offenses and criminal organization activity, with investigators continuing to map the full extent of the network and its operations.
Officials emphasize that the arrest operation sends a clear message about the commitment to confronting organized crime that blends extremist ideologies with illicit drug distribution. The case highlights the importance of cross-border cooperation, meticulous intelligence gathering, and targeted enforcement actions to disrupt supply chains that threaten public health and social stability. Marked notes and documentation recovered during the raids are being analyzed to reconstruct shipment patterns and identify additional associates who may be implicated in the broader network.
Experts note that the presence of distribution nodes across mainland Spain and the islands signals a deliberate, layered approach to evading surveillance. By exploiting legitimate commercial channels and exploiting weak links in the supply chain, the organization sought to minimize detection and maximize reach. The ongoing investigations aim to determine whether other regional cells exist and whether similar operations have taken place in neighboring countries. The investigation remains active as authorities scrutinize financial transactions, courier routes, and storage facilities tied to the network.
Overall, the operation demonstrates a concerted effort to dismantle a well-connected crime syndicate involved in the illicit distribution of anabolic products, with the added dimension of extremist associations. The police forces involved continue to collaborate with health and customs agencies to prevent illegal substances from entering the market and to safeguard consumers from potentially dangerous products. The details above reflect police reporting from the investigative teams involved in this operation.