The Civil Guard dismantled a network in Seville that specialized in moving illegal drugs and tobacco, carrying out arrests across the province. A fleet of electric scooters used to deliver shipments was seized, and twenty-six individuals involved in the logistics and distribution were detained to prevent further police evasion during inspections.
Authorities say the organization relied on instant messaging groups to coordinate operations, sharing real-time updates about police presence and implementing layered security measures. They used what was described as water carriers or fixed distribution points to minimize exposure and disruption during law enforcement actions.
The group had established its hub in several Seville towns, including Pilas, Aznalcázar, and Aznalcólar, where multiple sales and distribution points remained active. The operation began last February with the ROCA intervention unit deploying officers to track criminal activity around these sites. In Pilas, a pattern of offenses against people and property emerged, along with attempts by several vehicles to circumvent checkpoints.
During one checkpoint, a driver tried to flee after police signaled to stop the vehicle and even attempted to strike an officer. The escape was unsuccessful, and the suspect was later apprehended. The investigation also uncovered a related branch in Alicante where clonazepam, a drug typically prescribed for certain medical conditions but diverted for illicit use, was being procured and redistributed along the supply chain.
Clonazepam shipments were traced to Morocco and then reintroduced into Spain after being sold at inflated prices, often accompanied by other substances such as poppy-derived products. The operation revealed a new drug route impacting public health by influencing the central nervous system and causing hallucinations and altered behavior in users.
In a series of 17 searches authorized by the Court of First Instance, the Sanlúcar la Mayor judicial authority deployed around 200 agents. The Civil Guard recovered substantial quantities: 430 clonazepam tablets, more than 200 grams of cocaine, heroin, marijuana buds, poppy material, and chopped tobacco, along with several weapons, precision scales, 20,000 euros in cash, and multiple vehicles and scooters. The inquiry also yielded a large cache of the organization’s operational tools and financial records, underscoring the breadth of the network’s reach and the depth of the investigation.
Officials emphasized that the seizures disrupted a well-organized trafficking operation that leveraged evolving methods to move contraband across borders and into local markets. The case illustrates the persistent threat posed by cross-border drug networks and the importance of coordinated, multi-jurisdictional policing efforts. Law enforcement agencies continue to monitor related activity and pursue additional leads to dismantle remaining logistical nodes within the network.