National Police agents, together with the Serbian police, organized an operation under his coordination. EUROPE and in cooperation spanish navy and the police Portugal, Slovenia, Croatia, Brazil, Poland, France, USA DEA and MAOC-N (Maritime Analyst and Narcotics Operations Center)made possible the dispersal of a criminal organization made up of citizens of Balkan origin allegedly involved in the smuggling and distribution of cocaine into Europe by sea from South America. Specifically, they were caught carrying almost 2,700 kilograms of cocaine on a sailboat in international waters near the Canary Islands. Two crew members were arrested and later the leader of the organization in Serbia and three other members, as well as a total of six.
investigation It all started at the beginning of 2022, when, thanks to the cooperation of the Spanish and Serbian police under the coordination of EUROPOL, different information was received from the Slavic authorities that indicated that a major criminal organization in that country was preparing an operation to transport a smuggler. cocaine by sea.
Researchers have found that members of the organization and their environment constantly relocate. Thus, they learned that the alleged leader had traveled to Spain many times, trying to evade international accusations he knew, using his false Croatian national identity.
It was possible to prove this with advanced research. Croatia The organization had meetings with Latin American drug suppliers and identified who would later become the crew of the boat used to transport the drugs in Slovenia, and it was confirmed that several members of the organization had traveled to the archipelago. Cape Verde Islands and Latin American countries such as Colombia and Brazil on several occasions.
go to sea
In June of this year, it was possible to spot a 22-metre-long sailboat believed to have sailed from Brazil a month later and entered the Atlantic for about 100 miles, during which time it was loaded with drugs. After it was confirmed that the ship was on its way to Europe, the necessary mechanisms were activated through CITCO to board the ship.
With all the information obtained, a GEO strike team aboard a Spanish Navy ship, Gran Canary palms and in the early morning of August 24, he performed the sailboat boarding approximately 700 miles west of the Canary Islands. After boarding the ship, the two crew members were arrested, while approximately 2,700 kilograms of cocaine were seized, carried in a total of 89 duffel bags. It was also possible to recover several high-end GPS devices and a phone with satellite coverage.
Behind operational, The fact that the ship was pulled by the Spanish ship until it sank due to its condition shows how criminal organizations are using the last cruise ships and maximizing the benefits because they are purchased at a lower price.
Then in a coordinated police officials Serbia searched a total of 15 homes and confiscated 550,000 euros in cash, two high-end cars and numerous luxury watches, arresting the alleged leader of the country’s Balkan crime syndicate and three other members. The investigation is currently open and new arrests are not ruled out either.