Civil Guard announced the disbandment of the Nazaré operation, targeting the Piturros clan, a historic group tied to drug trafficking along the Arousa Estuary since the 1980s. Nine members were arrested, and four of them were ordered to prison by a court decision this Thursday, reflecting a decisive outcome in a long-running confrontation with organized crime.
The clan has long maintained direct links to the main Colombian cocaine distribution networks. The General Directorate of Civil Guard indicated that this network possessed the capacity to move substantial quantities of narcotics by sea, underscoring the strategic importance of maritime routes in the transnational drug trade and the need for sustained cross-border policing.
As part of the Nazare operation, spanning Spain and Portugal, Civil Guard cooperated with foreign law enforcement and judiciary bodies to dismantle the organization completely. Nine individuals were captured who allegedly planned to smuggle more than two tons of cocaine from the Portuguese coast into Spanish territory, a haul that would have had a significant impact on the European drug market.
Most of the seized substances were believed to be destined for the Farruku gang, an Albanian-anchored group recognized as one of the most active drug-trafficking outfits in Europe. The collaboration among diverse criminal networks and the cross-border nature of the operation highlighted the intricate web of actors involved in modern street-level trafficking and the challenges faced by authorities in curbing its reach.
Arrests and searches were executed simultaneously in the Galician provinces of Pontevedra, A Coruña, and Ourense, alongside operations in Monção, Portugal. The coordinated action demonstrated the importance of joint, bilateral efforts in effectively curbing illicit activity that spans national borders and requires rapid information sharing and synchronized tactical execution.
The investigation began in February when investigators confirmed that the Arousan clan had prepared a cocaine shipment and had staged a concealment in Peniche, Portugal. This finding set in motion a complex deployment of personnel and resources, involving maritime and land assets, to intercept the shipment at sea and secure the cargo before it could reach its intended destination in Galicia.
To disrupt the flow of drugs, authorities conducted a series of controlled seizures along the Portuguese coast, leveraging fast response vessels to prevent the criminals from offloading their load. A key moment occurred when a high-speed boat was immobilized, thwarting an attempt to unload the cargo offshore and forcing a shift in the operational dynamics of the trafficking network.
In April, 220 kilograms of cocaine were recovered in the Salnés district of Pontevedra, a significant seizure that added critical weight to the accumulating evidence against the organization. Collectively, these actions allowed investigators to establish a robust evidentiary trail linking the Nazare group not only to the alleged drug shipments but also to the broader pattern of transportation and distribution that sustained their operations.
The overall effort demonstrated that the criminal enterprise relied on a combination of documentation, logistical planning, and coordinated transportation to move narcotics from ports into inland markets. Investigators were able to trace the cargo movements, corroborate the involvement of specific individuals, and connect the seized drugs to the network controlled by the Galician faction, thereby solidifying charges related to drug trafficking, membership in a criminal organization, and money laundering.
The operation relied on the creation and coordination of a joint investigation team that brought together Spanish and Portuguese authorities, with assistance from international partners such as the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Europol, Eurojust, and the Spanish Anti-Drug Prosecutor’s Office under the oversight of the National Court. Civil Guard emphasized that this international cooperation provided the backbone for the investigative work, enabling direct information exchange and the sharing of critical evidence across borders.
With the accumulation of documentary, testimonial, and physical evidence, Spanish Civil Guard and Portuguese Judicial Police launched a comprehensive, cross-country operation aimed at apprehending the organization’s members. Twelve houses and other sites connected to the Piturros were searched, yielding tools and materials associated with illicit activities. Authorities seized 2 tons of cocaine in addition to documents and items pertinent to the investigation, reinforcing the case against the suspects.
The individuals detained face charges that include drug trafficking, association with a criminal organization, and money laundering. The proceedings reflect a concerted effort to dismantle a longstanding syndicate and to disrupt the supply chains that feed the European market for illicit substances. The case illustrates how modern drug networks leverage international networks and operational flexibility to move narcotics across borders, and how coordinated law enforcement responses can disrupt those flows at multiple points in the chain. (Civil Guard press release) (European law enforcement partners) (National Court No. 6, Spain)