Barajas GOE Group and Madrid Provincial Brigade XV recently dismantled a dedicated criminal network involved in large-scale drug trafficking. The operation aimed to halt the circulation of narcotics through the Madrid airport area, leading to the detention of 13 individuals, including eight people employed by companies operating at the airport. Authorities reported the seizure of more than 200 kilograms of cocaine during the action, underscoring a concerted effort by law enforcement to curb illicit activity tied to air transport hubs in Spain. The update was conveyed in a press release issued this Monday, reflecting the ongoing resolve of Madrid’s security forces.
The investigation traces back to 2021, when the Civil Guard initiated a cargo and baggage check operation at the airport in response to concerns about abandoned luggage. During this period, 161 kilograms of cocaine were intercepted and moved away from airport facilities, signaling the emergence of a sophisticated supply chain that exploited the aviation environment to conceal and transport narcotics.
Through coordinated efforts with CITCO and established police procedures, authorities confirmed that the case intersected with the Airport National Police Station and Group XV of the Madrid Provincial Brigade. This overlap prompted a joint initiative dubbed Operation Democles Air Force, a collaborative pursuit aimed at dismantling the network and disrupting its distribution channels.
Late night flights and fake labels
The criminal cell leveraged flights arriving at Madrid’s international airport in the early hours, using a strategy that involved sending luggage with counterfeit labels and leaving it unclaimed in airline warehouses. This tactic allowed cargo carrying narcotics to pass through routine checks with reduced scrutiny, exploiting gaps in the handling process that accompany overnight operations.
Several workers connected to the airport operations were implicated in the scheme. They sought to exploit systemic loopholes to remove narcotics from the facility, effectively bypassing standard police scrutiny in order to facilitate the movement of illicit goods.
Over the course of the investigation, investigators identified eight airport workers involved in the scheme and later extended the scope to include seven more individuals who formed part of the same organized group. The leadership of the operation was attributed to a ringleader described as a Dominican national who previously worked at the Madrid airport through 2020, giving him insider knowledge of the facility’s routines and security gaps. This individual acted as a central connector within the network, coordinating activities and bridging multiple participants.
According to authorities, the ringleader had built a multifaceted framework designed to collect merchandise inside the airport and funnel it toward a final distribution point. He was the sole person with a complete view of the group’s membership, enabling centralized control over operations.
From the airport, the goods were moved to a residence near the Wanda Metropolitano football stadium before being redirected to a villa in Getafe, where the lieutenant orchestrated further deployment. Additional collaborators were tasked with transporting narcotics beyond the immediate region, often using workers in a workshop to disguise drugs within vehicles and manage onward travel.
The operation ultimately led to 13 arrests, with 14 additional individuals under investigation, including 13 men and one woman of Spanish, Dominican, Cuban, and Colombian nationality. Two detainees carried prior records related to drug offenses. Law enforcement conducted 10 house searches across Getafe, Madrid, and Valdemoro, uncovering a total of 202,851 grams of high-purity cocaine in three separate seizures. Investigators also recovered substances and equipment used to adulterate and distribute drugs, four firearms, ammunition, roughly 140,000 euros in cash, and a currency counter.
Individuals detained during the operation face charges that include crimes against public health, drug trafficking, membership in a criminal organization, money laundering, possession of illegal weapons, and electricity fraud. The case highlights the complex coordination required to disrupt criminal networks that exploit major transportation hubs and underscores the ongoing commitment of Spanish authorities to combat drug trafficking through rigorous interdiction and surveillance measures.