Spanish national police units dismantled a first cocaine production lab in Spain that mirrored the setup seen in South American operations. The facility had the capacity to produce about 120 kilograms of narcotics each week.
In this operation, twelve individuals were detained, including the organization’s leader and his right-hand. Authorities conducted ten search warrants in Malaga, Cordoba, and Madrid, according to a statement from the National Police.
Known as Operation Silkon, the investigation began in May after investigators identified a criminal network with substantial operational capacity for illegal activity. The leader and his deputy, both residents of Malaga with a high-profile lifestyle, maintained control over shell companies that imported cement bags which concealed narcotics shipments feeding a hidden Madrid laboratory.
Law enforcement traced the leader, a Spanish citizen, and the rest of the group, confirming they supplied large quantities of chemical products and all essential materials to set up the laboratory. The group operated a storage room in Córdoba for solvents, which were later moved to a sea container stored in a parking area along the Costa del Sol.
As the case developed, investigators identified another Dominican national, trusted by the leader, who oversaw drug production in the laboratory and coordinated its distribution. Investigators also confirmed this man recruited three Colombian nationals who traveled to Spain for drug extraction. The migrants, known as “cooks,” are typically hired for a single operation and paid based on the kilos produced for repatriation purposes.
Further inquiries revealed the organization rented a villa in Coín (Malaga), initially serving as the laboratory site before moving to the Madrid region for security. To transport the narcotics, members wrapped the drugs in cement bags and took extensive security precautions, including shuttle trucks.
The cargo bags were initially directed to a car wash operated by group members and later to a rural farm near the capital.
Finally, authorities carried out a sweep of ten homes on September 6 — six in Malaga, three in Madrid, and one in Córdoba — which led to the organization’s complete disruption. Nine people were arrested that day, with three more taken into custody three days later.
Access to the laboratory
The Special Operations Group (GEO) joined the operation to access the laboratory in a town near Madrid. Five cooks were found during the seizure.
The laboratory lay hidden outside the main farm, tucked behind tall bushes and shielded by umbrellas and tarpaulins intended to obscure it from aerial observation.
Authorities noted similarities to methods used in South American forests for extracting cocaine paste. The cooks demonstrated advanced knowledge of the process, which often includes large quantities of chemical products, though the detainees handled only the extraction portion itself. Gasoline, ammonia, and water were among the chemicals involved.
In Malaga, the National Police captured the operation’s leader and the lieutenant, seizing a vehicle containing a pistol and six rounds, along with cash and documents. They also disrupted a parking area where containers housed significant amounts of chemicals, both liquid and solid, left to be used in future extraction operations by the network.
Overall, authorities seized 85 kilos of cocaine paste, 250 kilos of cement impregnated with cocaine, 950 liters of chemical precursors, 125 kilos of solid precursors, six vehicles, and 36,000 euros.