joint operation Mossos d’Esquadra and Italian police managed to bust a major criminal gang that was smuggling large quantities of classified items. marijuana And give a stimulant between Catalonia And Italy. The Catalan police described the investigation that resulted in the death of 20 people this Thursday. detained 58 in Catalonia and Italy – as the “most comprehensive and most resounding” incident against the terrorist organization drug trafficking international.
Investigations launched a year ago and coordinated by Europol, Mossos and Financial Guardian transalpina began to discover a network that set up its logistics center to store drugs in Catalonia, from where they were transported to Northern Italy. However, it was also partially distributed in Catalonia. Agents from both forces seized more than 30 tonnes of drugs and seized assets worth €129 million and almost three million euros in cash.
Catalan police announced arrested Linked to Italian organized crime, they were part of “one of the most established international criminal organizations” in the northern part of the European country. The organization warns that the gang is “spreading its tentacles in Catalonia” and adds: Research It allowed us to reveal two criminal networks that feed each other.
One of them was smuggling drugs, the other laundered the proceeds and kept them to defraud the treasury. The Guardia di Finanza speaks of a “secret bank” controlled by Chinese nationals in both Italy and Catalonia. Seven establishments in Badalona, including warehouses, restaurants and clothing stores, participated as offices from which the exchange of money between both countries was received, and the Italian ringleaders of the Barcelona-based conspiracy received it to pay for the cost of the drugs. suppliers.
Different businesses Milan joined the same network; furry The place is suspected by investigators to be a hangout for drug traffickers. Italian police managed to get a video camera involved: the secret device recorded payments worth 26 million euros in six months for narcotics from Catalonia.
non-transparent banking system
Catalan police say the gang operates “with a parallel and non-transparent banking system.” known as ‘fei chien’ anyone ‘wow’ The body emphasizes that this is the first time it has been identified in an investigation in Catalonia. Four Chinese nationals have been arrested in Italy for alleged links to secret payments, and nine others are being investigated in Catalonia for the same reason.
Mossos details that its method of camouflaging illicit profits consists of “the transfer of large amounts of money from one country to another through a network of offices.” trust”. To mask the illegal activities that fueled them, the network had established two business structures outside the organization’s headquarters and responsible for collections and payments.
Cash payment was made for drug transportation in Italy. Business structure established in a European country, code The twin agha in Catalonia. The Italian group that manages the network business He made a purchase from Badalona and received the money stipulated in the transaction by providing the said code. Representatives emphasize that the system makes it difficult to detect money laundering.
A fake kidnapping
Badalona Court of Inquiry 4 and Prosecutor’s Office The Italian antimafia commanded the actions. Mossos stated it was fake kidnapping The murder of an Italian citizen in January 2022 led to the establishment of first contacts with Italian counterparts.
following rapture The fictitious Mossos and the Milan Guardia di Finanza investigated a strange incident that occurred in Badalona. quarantine because of covid. The incident took place in Badalona, some agents located a citizen with 300,000 euros on him. limitations To prevent the spread of the virus. Following the lead, the Mossos managed to link the suspicious passerby to a crime cell set up in Barcelona by the Italian police and their leaders.
leaders Some of the gang carrying drugs to Italy were citizens of that country living in the Catalan capital. They were responsible for monitoring and coordinating. posts Drug sales and collection of money from drug sales in Italy. Another group integrated into the network was tasked with obtaining marijuana. Morocco and carry it secretly to Catalonia tractors of trucks. The third tentacle received products imported from the sub-Saharan country and collected medicines in “nursers”. opener And Sant Fost de Campsentelles. They carried it too trailers, hidden between goods It’s legal and will go to Italy.
105 people were carried out in last week’s operation records30 of these are in towns in the Barcelona metropolitan area, where more than a thousand agents have been mobilized. Mossos’ agents also traveled to Milan and the surrounding area, where the device was concentrated to take down the criminal network.
The arrests of the suspects were carried out simultaneously in Spain and Italy on 17 October. They are accused of alleged crimes against public health, including drug trafficking, money laundering and membership in a criminal organisation.