The Guardia Civil arrested the alleged driver of a so called shuttle vehicle that supported a organization involved in international drug trafficking and dismantled it in the operation dubbed Topila in mid 2023. The detainee, a 36 year old man, has been placed at the disposal of the Investigating Court number three of Torrevieja, which ordered his release under precautionary measures.
Investigations carried out by the Judicial Police Team of the Pilar de la Horadada Guardia Civil began in June 2023 when a criminal group engaged in international drug trafficking was dismantled. During the actions, authorities found indications of a vehicle used to provide security for the transport of the drug, commonly known as a shuttle, prompting further inquiries to clarify the facts.
After the investigators carried out the initial arrests and obtained the necessary evidence in the searches, they conducted the appropriate inquiries to prove the existence of the related vehicle and identify its driver.
Following the analysis of footage captured by road surveillance cameras and other evidence, the agents managed to identify the car and the person piloting it. The driver was a 36 year old Irish national.
The agents eventually located the suspect at an establishment in the town of Rojales. They proceeded to detain him there with the support of a Pilar de la Horadada Guardia Civil patrol.
On February 17, the detainee, charged with drug trafficking, was placed at the disposal of Investigating Court number three in Torrevieja, which granted him release under precautionary measures.
It is worth noting that following the arrest, authorities discovered a prior arrest warrant for falsification of documents, with the suspect being presented to Investigating Court number two in Torrevieja, which was seeking him.
Operation main
These actions are linked to a broader operation conducted last June when the Guardia Civil dismantled in San Miguel de Salinas and Orihuela Costa a criminal group based in Vega Baja that specialized in sending marijuana to Ireland via postal packages. One of those arrested fled a gas station in the Madrid suburb of Rivas Vaciamadrid and left behind four suitcases containing 54 kilograms of marijuana. In addition to exporting drugs to Ireland, the group also sold drugs in municipalities within the area where they were captured.