Nationwide crackdown targets a drug network linked to cannabis production and trafficking
A multinational investigation dismantled a criminal group accused of sending Grenade Marijuana and hashish shipments since 2019. The operation, described as a major European sting, involved hidden trucks and caravans and led to the arrest of thirty-seven suspects. Authorities reported the seizure of 350 kilograms of cannabis buds and 65 kilograms of marijuana, along with firearms, luxury vehicles, and more than 325,000 euros in cash. The Civil Guard, Europol, and other law enforcement agencies coordinated the effort across several jurisdictions to disrupt a long-running supply chain.
Known by investigators as operation Zadar, the case began with intelligence gathered by the Civil Guard in Granada regarding drug trafficking patterns. The inquiry revealed a network guided by an Eastern European national, with several cells operating under shared procedures designed to move drugs into European markets efficiently while remaining under detection thresholds.
Evidence suggested a cultivated cannabis grow operation spread throughout the Granada province. The network organized multiple plantations that supplied a centralized system of distribution. Each segment of the operation featured a distinct leadership role, including a middle manager, a warehouse supervisor, and coordinators who oversaw various breeders. In a later phase, the organization’s leader reportedly visited nurseries to select consignments based on demand from international buyers, while a lieutenant issued orders to move products from warehouses to loading points.
To evade scrutiny, the group employed small, frequent transfers of marijuana in batches ranging from 40 to 60 pounds. Each shipment followed a different operational pattern and loading point, adding a layer of confusion that complicated police work and surveillance efforts.
Most of the end customers were located in Germany, where the drugs were routed through articulated dump trucks, international freight transports, or caravans posing as tourist caravans. The concealment was highly sophisticated, with drugs hidden in double bottoms or camouflaged beneath legitimate cargo, enabling covert cross-border movement.
The execution phase of the operation coincided with dawn seizures along key corridors, including the A-44 highway near Granada. Authorities seized 57 kilograms of marijuana and 22 kilograms of marijuana, and detained one principal suspect associated with the organization. Subsequent actions under the authorization of the Granada Sixth Investigative Court led to 28 searches across 15 municipalities in Granada and Marbella, Málaga, with participation from 300 Civil Guard officers. The breadth of the operation underscored its reach and the extensive networks involved.
Overall, more than 350 kilograms of cannabis buds were confiscated, alongside more than 3,300 cannabis plants and multiple breeding facilities prepared for shipment. Investigators also recovered 14 firearms in working condition, including two short weapons fitted with silencers, and 17 high-end vehicles. A laboratory dedicated to cannabis production was dismantled, and 65 kilograms of cannabis concentrate were seized as part of the crackdown.
One of the principal suspects reportedly maintained a safe deposit box within a banking institution and was implicated in a money laundering inquiry. The individual previously ran a small grocery store and had constructed a residence valued at well over half a million euros. Authorities strengthened their case by freezing assets tied to the organization to prevent dissipation while investigations continue. Early assessments suggest the network transmitted roughly 100 kilograms of drugs on a monthly basis, underscoring a steady, high-volume operation that demanded ongoing enforcement attention.