National Police operations in the Malaga area disrupted a Franco-Malaccan network tied to drug storage and illicit transfers ending in France. Investigators reported that the group maintained a residence in Arriate, a municipality near Ronda, where narcotics were kept before moving to a European destination. During searches, authorities recovered 40 kilograms of marijuana, 186 kilograms of an unidentified stimulant, an AK-74 assault rifle with ammunition, a semi-automatic pistol, two vehicles, and a positioning device. The seizures pointed to a tightly organized operation with multiple moving parts and a clear route toward transnational distribution. This overview is based on official statements from the National Police and confirms the underlying criminal pattern observed on the ground.
The investigation began with information sharing between the National Police and French police officials. The French Anti-Narcotics Office (OFAST) highlighted the existence of a single-family home in Arriate believed to be used by a Franco-Moroccan organization to store drugs. Spanish agents located the property and observed suspicious activity inside. On one occasion, a small truck loaded with construction materials left the residence. The vehicle was driven by a French national of Arab origin with a prior drug trafficking history in France, though he was not found to be in possession of illegal goods when intercepted by Ronda Local Police. The incident underscored the cross-border nature of the operation and the need for joint surveillance.
By early June, investigators tracked a goods haul truck departing the Arriate residence toward Antequera. They requested reinforcement from the local police station, and a high-speed pursuit ensued across roads and regional highways through Antequera, Archidona, and Villanueva de Algaidas. National Police units, the Civil Guard, and Antequera Local Police coordinated to intercept the minibus involved, which eventually lost control and crashed on a country road. Although the driver fled on foot, he was not found. Inside the vehicle, authorities recovered 186 kilograms of marijuana, including 75 kilograms of marijuana buds, along with a semi-automatic pistol and ammunition. The operation demonstrated a sustained effort to disrupt supply lines and seize contraband before it could be re-routed through multiple jurisdictions.
At the Arriate residence, investigators recovered 360 kilograms of hashish divided into 100-gram pills, and an AK-74 assault rifle with ammunition magazines. Law enforcement noted that the house functioned as a nursery for the organization, supporting both storage and labor needs. Soon after, agents located the truck identified earlier at a remote farm near Ronda. During inspection, a hidden double bottom was found in the rear of the vehicle, revealing that the house, which emitted a strong marijuana odor, also served as an auxiliary warehouse for the operation. The discovery highlighted the interconnected nature of the network, with multiple sites linked by a shared purpose and supply chain.
The ongoing investigation aims to locate the fugitive French individual and other third-party members of the criminal organization, underscoring the persistent efforts required to dismantle transnational drug trafficking rings. The case illustrates how local enforcement, cross-border cooperation, and strategic surveillance converge to map out criminal networks and disrupt their logistics, even as suspects remain at large.