Overview of the Case Involving a Major Cocaine Network
In a high-profile case tied to the drug trade, Ana Maria Kameno, often referred to in press as the figure known as “La Reina de la Coca,” was central to a network that moved more than 100 kilograms of cocaine for an estimated 15 million euros. The operation was led by Kameno’s partner, a man identified as Jose Ramon Mora Parra, who ultimately admitted his involvement and accepted a sentence of nine years and six months in prison. His confession confirmed his close association with Kameno and the broader criminal enterprise, as reported by the court and corroborated by the prosecution.
Earlier this year, Mora faced a potential 21-year term before the National Court. He fled and died in absentia, a decision later announced by the same court that had sentenced Kameno to sixteen years in prison in September. Mora reappeared after that ruling, and the National Court scheduled a new hearing for his prosecution on October 27. Facing the prospect of an oral hearing, Mora chose to cooperate with the Prosecutor’s Office and acknowledged full responsibility for the alleged crimes.
The court’s ruling, which Europa Press could access, established a nine-year-and-six-month prison sentence for Mora on charges including crimes against public health, money laundering, and illegal possession of weapons. The judgment also noted that Mora benefited from late-confession mitigation and a narcotics-related reduction in culpability, given that his capacity to reason had been impaired by ongoing cocaine use during the period in question.
The facts laid out in the judgment align with findings previously issued by the Second Circuit of the Criminal Division against Kameno. The court described how Kameno, already indicted in 2013 by authorities for drug trafficking, continued to engage in the distribution and sale of substantial cocaine quantities while in custody, coordinating with others to move the drug and manage financial flows.
Role of the Key Figures in the Network
Kameno served as a central coordinator in the operation, maintaining ties with suppliers and the individuals responsible for transporting the substance. Alongside Mora—described as her emotional partner at the time—the pair managed payments related to the sale and directed the network’s technical, legal, and financial supports. The operation relied on a rotating cast of drivers who ferried cocaine using vehicles arranged through third parties. These drivers operated with the agreement of Kameno and Mora to deliver the drugs to buyers, often using concealed routes and concealed cargo arrangements to avoid detection.
The court characterized the criminal syndicate as a permanent structure with a core leadership composed of Kameno and Mora, supported by a broader team that participated in specific operations and maintained ongoing collaboration with habitual associates. The organization’s operations were carried out through a system of roles, with some participants acting as regular substitutes in each operation.
Investigators uncovered a house belonging to the principals in which a substantial cache of drugs was stored. The premises contained a total of 49 packages of cocaine with a net weight around 45 kilograms and a purity near 56 percent by market value. The discovery included 5.8 million euros in cash, a silenced pistol, 28 mobile devices, precise weighing equipment, and a hydraulic press used for processing the drug.
The court emphasized that the facts presented in the proceedings were supported by the defendants’ own statements and the evidence gathered during the oral hearing conducted at the end of October. This evidence corroborated the narrative of a well-established, multi-person operation with Kameno and Mora at its core and others providing essential support in transport, distribution, and financial dealings.
In sum, the record depicts Kameno as the central figure driving the drug distribution network, with Mora positioned as a key partner who, at times, assumed responsibility and cooperated with authorities. The combined testimony and material evidence painted a comprehensive picture of a sophisticated criminal enterprise aimed at supplying large quantities of cocaine to multiple buyers, backed by a coordinated framework involving transport, logistics, and financial management.
Operational Footprint and Evidence
The investigation revealed that Cameno and Mora held a sustained, multi-faceted operation, relying on an array of vehicles and secret arrangements to move cocaine. The network’s transportation elements frequently involved third-party drivers who carried out deliveries under the guidance of Kameno and Mora, ensuring the drugs reached the intended recipients and that payments were processed through discreet channels. The judicial findings described a structured hierarchy with defined roles, where participants interacted within a closely managed system and relied on trusted collaborators to execute each phase of the trafficking process.
The physical evidence underscored the scale of the activity, highlighting the quantities of narcotics and the financial assets linked to the operation. The court’s conclusions reflected a case built on both documentary records and the defendants’ admissions, forming a coherent narrative of organized crime with Kameno and Mora at the center.
Overall, the prosecutions and subsequent rulings illustrate a deliberate and organized approach to large-scale drug trafficking, with clear delineation of responsibilities among members of the network and a sustained effort to maintain concealment and efficiency in illicit operations.