Operation Jaque Mate delivered a decisive blow to the main channel through which cocaine entered Europe from Colombia. Investigators from the Organized Crime and Narcotics Unit (EDOA) of the Guardia Civil in the Balearic Islands arrested the primary link in the Colombian drug cartels, who had been channeling thousands of kilos of cocaine into Spain and across the European continent. The operation marked one of the most significant narcotics cases ever in the Balearic Islands, resulting in 64 arrests, including both Spanish and Colombian nationals, the seizure of 1,300 kilograms of cocaine, 15 luxury vehicles, 300,000 euros in cash, 40 properties valued at 8.8 million euros, and the freezing of 148 bank accounts.
The investigation began a year and a half earlier at the Balearic Guardia Civil Command. The inquiry involved collaboration with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration, Portugal’s Public Security Police, Brazil’s Federal Police, and Colombia’s National Police. The EDOA uncovered a sophisticated network that moved large quantities of drugs through the Balearic Islands. Specifically, a substantial flow of cocaine from South America entered Spain via Portugal.
The Colombian cartels, anchored by the Europe-based liaison in Murcia, maintained constant contact with the Los Valencianos clan, who in turn were connected to Pablo Campos Maya, the long-standing leader of the clan and a narcotics capo in the Palma neighborhood of La Soledat. They distributed the drug across Mallorca.
During the first phase of Operation Jaque Mate, conducted in December 2023, nine people were detained, including the cartel’s leader in Spain. The arrest happened as the individual attempted to extract 1.3 tons of cocaine from Brazilian granite blocks in Cehegín, Murcia. The operation revealed the clever technique used to move such a large quantity of drugs along the transatlantic route without drawing attention.
In the second phase, completed at the end of January, 23 searches were executed across Valencia, Palma, and Toledo. Sixteen people were detained, multiple drugs and 80,000 euros in cash were seized, 48 bank accounts were blocked, and properties worth 1.8 million euros were seized.
The third and final phase unfolded in the early hours of Wednesday, March 13. Police carried out 71 searches—60 in Mallorca and 11 in Valencia. In this stage, 39 people were arrested and several quantities of hashish, marijuana, cocaine, and crystal were seized. Eight cannabis plantations were dismantled in total.
In the final phase of Jaque Mate, authorities recovered 15 luxury vehicles, 220,000 euros, two short firearms, and a shotgun. A hundred bank accounts were blocked, and more than seven million euros were tied up in 32 properties.
Investigators found that drug traffickers intensified security around sale points, using reinforced doors to frustrate entry and employing devices to destroy the narcotics rapidly, ensuring the operation could remain concealed longer.
30-meter tunnel
At the main residence of the Pablo clan in La Soledat, alongside the opulent interior of a home on Teix Street that belied its modest exterior, authorities uncovered a 30-meter tunnel dug to guarantee a swift escape in case of raids. The area was also equipped with numerous surveillance cameras to alert of police presence.
In all, 15 luxury vehicles were seized, 300,000 euros in cash were blocked, 148 bank accounts were frozen, and 40 properties were seized with a collective value of 8.8 million euros.
Operation Jaque Mate was overseen and coordinated by the Palma Magistrate Court No. 7 and the Palma Anti-Narcotics Prosecutor’s Office. The Balearic Guardia Civil’s Organized Crime and Anti-Drug Unit led the inquiry on the islands, with substantial collaboration from the Special Intervention Unit, the Rapid Action Group, the Royal Guard Security Group, and the Guardia Civil’s Canine Service during multiple raids and detentions.