The Colombian drug trafficking organization known as the alleged president was exposed in an industrial warehouse in Cehegín, Murcia, according to Levante-EMV from the Prensa Ibérica group on Thursday. He was reportedly headed to the scene himself when the operation unfolded. The drugs, hidden inside enormous marble blocks, could not be saved before being transported by sea from South America.
These details come from authorized investigations carried out by the Palma Civil Guard organized crime and drugs squad, with support from a specialist group within the central operating unit. The operation confirmed the seizure of 1,300 kilos of cocaine — more than previously calculated — and led to the arrest of eight people, seven men and one woman.
A group from Valencia will be under the spotlight from 2022
The network had been under investigation since late 2022, when Palma anti-narcotics agents traced a group of Colombians based in Valencia to import large shipments of cocaine from their country.
The first seizure linked to the organization occurred at the Port of Palma in early August, just days after agents began tracking the alleged ringleader and two lieutenants. They observed the boss’s trusted associate in Valencia and in Camp de Turia handing over a bag filled with drugs.
first 10 kilos
From then on officials followed the suspect as he traveled on the ferry from the port of Valencia to Palma in a heavy vehicle loaded with fruit and a suspicious bag. Upon arrival in Palma, a trained drug-sniffing dog alerted to the bag. The guards opened it to find 10 kilos of cocaine. The truck driver, a 54-year-old Valencian, was immediately arrested.
Believing the network was preparing for a larger operation, investigators continued surveillance of the cartel’s leaders. This vigilance uncovered an industrial warehouse in Cehegín, a nearby chalet, and a rented minibus believed to be used for transporting supplies to a destination that was not Valencia nor Murcia.
Did you enter from Valencia Port?
The final phase of the operation prompted warnings from narcotics officers. Surveillance intensified and investigators learned that the drugs were already in Cehegín’s warehouse, and all signs pointed to an entry via the Port of Valencia, though this could not be fully confirmed yet.
A surprising development emerged as delays affected the drug handover. Levante-EMV reported exclusively that the shipment was hidden inside three large marble blocks. To retrieve the cocaine, it was necessary to inspect the stone itself and ensure the drug was not dispersed on the vessel.
A strange subtraction
The first machine used to extract the drugs turned out to be broken during a holiday period marked by maintenance breaks, forcing a postponement. When attempts resumed, problems persisted with the water flow and the sawing equipment, which slowed the operation and increased risk for the suspects.
With the extraction delayed and the operation at risk, the organization reportedly sent a senior member from Valencia to Cehegín to restore order and oversee the process directly.
Everyone to prison
The arrival of the top officials coincided with the moment they were able to extract cocaine from the first block. The Civil Guard waited for the moment to arrest the crew, and the operation culminated in the capture of the network leader and the key operators, a rare outcome given the risk of direct involvement from bosses in drug handling.
One of those detained aboard the Cehegín ship in Murcia was escorted by the Civil Guard to the Caravaca de la Cruz court. The operation confirmed the seizure of 1,300 kilos of cocaine as authorities prepared to bring the case to trial.
Of the eight initial detainees, seven were brought to justice. Six were aboard the ship and one was a lieutenant. The eighth person, the alleged ringleader’s wife, was released after appearing before the Civil Guard. The courts moved to detain seven individuals yesterday, while the remaining suspects faced varying charges.
7.6 tons in two months
With this latest development, authorities have tallied 7.6 tonnes of cocaine seized on the euro market after entering Valencia. Spain emerged as a key entry point for cocaine arriving by sea from South America, ranking behind only Antwerp and Rotterdam in Europe for such seizures. Valencia port areas have been prominent in prior years as a major gateway for shipments.
Since the late 2000s, the Port of Valencia has stood as a crucial entry point for cocaine shipments from South America, marking a significant period in European drug trafficking patterns.