National Police and Tax Office Disrupt Large Drug and Tobacco Syndicate in Alicante and Murcia
In a coordinated operation conducted by the National Police and the Tax Office, nine suspects linked to a drug-smuggling organization were detained. The gang used camouflaged compartments in passenger vehicles to move contraband to European markets, with a primary focus on the Netherlands. The arrests occurred in the provinces of Alicante and Murcia, following multiple raids in Torrevieja, Pilar de la Horadada, Orihuela, and Molina de Segura. The seizures included 5,000 kilograms of tobacco leaves, 300 cannabis plants, 900 grams of cannabis buds, and 800 grams of cocaine, underscoring the group’s dual role in tobacco trafficking and narcotics production.
Authorities also recovered 14,000 euros in cash, five tools, a compressed air gun, knives, fake license plates, and various devices used to run and mask the illicit plantation operation. The detainees include six Spaniards and three Polish nationals, as confirmed by a statement from the National Police and the Tax Administration.
The operation, dubbed Kubika/Azafrán, targeted a Customs Surveillance unit in Alicante and an organized tobacco smuggling network. The investigation quickly revealed a broader criminal framework extending beyond tobacco, encompassing cannabis cultivation and international drug trafficking via indoor plantations.
Investigations indicated that the gang distributed and concealed drugs for European markets, with the Netherlands repeatedly cited as a key destination. Vehicles in which the contraband traveled often had concealed compartments designed to evade routine checks and law enforcement scrutiny.
On the 8th, a joint action fragmented the criminal organization. The network consisted of Polish and Spanish individuals based in Alicante and Murcia, operating in tandem to coordinate cross-border shipments and plantation activities.
The operation was conducted by agents from the Tax Office Customs Surveillance and Judicial Police (UDYCO) in Alicante, the Alicante Provincial Police Station, and the Murcia High Headquarters of Citizen Security, with support from the GOES unit in Valencia and under the supervision of Investigation Court No. 1 in Orihuela. This multi-agency effort demonstrates how fiscal, police, and judicial authorities collaborate to dismantle sophisticated smuggling rings and dismantle illegal plantations. The details of the case are based on official releases from the involved authorities.