When was the last time someone shared a slice and a story about pizza? What toppings do you crave? These familiar questions are common for leaning into the comforts of a favorite dish. Yet they can also mask something far more profitable beneath the surface. How is cocaine traded? The belief that a family-run pizzeria is solely about food can create a dangerous illusion and invite exploitation of trust for illegal gains.
This Wednesday, Elche Police Station reported the arrest of a father and son described as part of a
“family clan of Italian origin” operating from a pizzeria in the Torrellano neighborhood. The National Police Service described how buyers approached the pizzeria, made contact with the suspects, and exchanged money for drugs inside the premises.
money and drugs
Law enforcement intervened during a broader operation, leading to the capture of both individuals. Investigators recovered 55 grams of cocaine, 400 grams of marijuana, precision scales, and 40 thousand euros in cash. A vehicle listed as stolen in France was also seized as part of the seizure.
Italian family clan
Authorities initiated the investigation after learning of the incident and identified a family of Italian origin based in the Torrellano area who allegedly used the family restaurant to distribute narcotics, primarily cocaine and marijuana. To verify the information, researchers conducted several procedures and confirmed that the pizzeria run by two men, described as father and son, served as a front for illicit activity.
Through multiple surveillance operations, investigators confirmed that cocaine and marijuana were distributed from within the pizzeria while ordinary catering activities continued. Those responsible for distributing drugs allegedly met buyers at the establishment. Police findings indicate that the clan was active in the distribution of cocaine and marijuana across Torrellano and the wider Elche region.
“It turned out that the white substance seized in the pizzeria’s kitchen was cocaine, not table flour.”
Following his arrest, agents conducted three searches, including two at addresses in Torrellano and Santa Pola, resulting in the seizure of about 40,000 euros in cash. A third search of the pizzeria uncovered several vials containing a white substance that resembled flour but tested positive for cocaine when analyzed.
The investigation was led by officers from the Organized Crime Group I of the Judicial Police Brigade of the Alicante Provincial Police Station. The detainees, aged 24 and 51, were brought before the Court of Inquiry in Elche for further proceedings.
Exploiting a business to conceal illegal activities constitutes a legal aggravating circumstance
Distributing and selling drugs through a business is seen as an aggravating factor because it facilitates access for consumers and allows the seller to benefit from legitimate premises. The police note that criminal activity could be cloaked by customers ordering or picking up pizza under a normal business guise.
If a restaurant were used as the front for drug smuggling, the operation could resemble money laundering and appear legitimate, helping to obscure the illicit source of profits and maintain a steady cash flow.
This case marks the second major cocaine-related investigation resolved by the National Police Service in roughly six weeks; a prior operation dismantled a laboratory in El Altet.