A Civil Guard operation associated with Cardador led to the arrest of a suspect in Umbrete, Seville. The man, 32-year-old MVP known as El Lana, is described by authorities as the head of Seville’s most influential and violent cannabis trafficking network operating along the Guadalquivir river.
The arrested individual had evaded justice since 2018 and became the focus of ongoing Civil Guard inquiries in recent years. Earlier operations, Cansino and Llorón, conducted in 2018 and 2019, yielded a large seizure including firearms, more than 10 tons of hashish, 2 kilograms of cocaine, 10 inflatable boats, Kalashnikov rifles, pistols, revolvers, and a substantial number of stolen vehicles among other items.
The drug lord was described as highly vigilant and exceptionally cautious, implementing strong security measures to shield both criminal operations and personal life.
As investigations continued, authorities learned that the suspect might spend New Year’s Eve with relatives in Seville, prompting surveillance across several sites in the Aljarafe area in the days leading up to the holiday to identify a potential meeting point.
New Year’s Eve arrest
Investigative efforts culminated in pinpointing a family chalet in Umbrete used by the fugitive’s relatives as a possible rendezvous point for New Year’s Eve. Law enforcement placed a monitoring device at the chalet on the 31st, allowing officers to observe movements during the evening hours.
The suspect was seen taking steps to obscure his identity, including altering his appearance as he left home.
On another occasion, officers found the individual away from residence and moved quickly to detain him. The detainee carried a pistol and forged documents at the time of arrest.
Fleeing from justice
Specialized investigation units have traced the JMV’s movements for years, noting that the suspect frequently changed residences and lived in multiple Spanish cities to elude capture, often relying on forgeries and encrypted communications.
The operation united the Regional Center for Analysis and Intelligence Against Drug Trafficking, the Organic Unit of the Seville Judicial Police Command, the Andalusia Regional Judicial Police Unit, and the Rapid Action Group.
The detainee has a lengthy criminal history and faced three active warrants for search, arrest, and statements related to drug trafficking. The charges span Seville, Coria del Río, and Cádiz. He was taken into custody by order of the Eighth Court of Seville after appearing in court.