ringleader
Rafael Amargo, a dancer from Madrid, is set to stand trial as the alleged head of a drug trafficking network that operates from the group’s own apartments. The case implicates his wife, Luciana Bongianino, along with producer Eduardo de los Santos and another associate, Miguel Ángel Batista León. The forthcoming hearing is part of a Madrid court proceeding that will determine whether the four are charged with crimes related to public health and membership in a criminal organization. The court views Amargo as the principal figure in the organization, which allegedly moved methamphetamine through a system that used rented homes and a circle of couriers to distribute the substances to buyers.
During investigations, authorities highlighted multiple addresses tied to the group. They reported substantial quantities of drugs seized, recorded phone conversations between sellers and buyers, and uncovered supplies linked to methamphetamine, ketamine, MDMA, and GBL. These findings underscore a broader operation in which the defendants controlled a drug trafficking network and relied on intermediaries to reach customers.
The arrest of Amargo occurred on 1 December 2020 in connection with these events. He was released while awaiting trial, but subsequent actions led to renewed proceedings. A later arrest on 16 March in Alicante resulted in his being released again with conditions, as prosecutors alleged that the trafficking activities continued despite prior controls and that law enforcement officers faced resistance during the arrest attempt.
nine years in prison
As the next hearing approaches, the defendants legal teams, led by Rafael BitterJaime Caballero, remind the court that the artist rejected an agreement with prosecutors recently. The defense argues that the accusation of drug dealing is unfounded, noting that being a consumer does not equate to selling. Amargo has publicly disclosed a history of drug rehabilitation efforts, explaining that his personal struggles influenced who he allowed into his home and the access to certain items. The defense asserts that these factors do not prove that he participated in a drug trafficking scheme.
The public prosecutor has sought a nine-year prison sentence for Amargo and the same term for Eduardo de Santos, based on the charge of persistently distributing drugs from Amargo’s residence and collaborating on the purchase and distribution network. The prosecution also seeks a six-year term for Batista León, who is described as a reliable intermediary responsible for delivering drugs to buyers. While the prosecutor did not request a separate sentence for Bongianino, the judge is considering all four defendants as potential co-perpetrators of a public health crime and as members of a criminal organization.
The indictment asserts that Amargo acted in concert with de Santos and the other partner to commit a drug sale from his own home and to profit from the distribution to third parties. The case hinges on whether the accused maintained a persistent pattern of drug sales and whether the home environment facilitated such activity, with a broader emphasis on the health risks posed to the community.
Popper and phenylethylamine
In addition to the more extensive drug charges, prosecutors noted that searches of the defendants’ residences, including Amargo’s home, uncovered items that require careful handling under drug control laws. The substances found included three containers of “Popper” nitrites, a sachet containing phenylethylamine, and a bottle of GBL with measurable quantities. The estimated street value of these items was recorded during the investigation. The case against Eduardo de Santos includes the seizure of methamphetamine with a purity level around 76 percent, along with ketamine and additional substances similar in nature to those listed earlier, together with cash amounts and several mobile devices used for communication and coordination of the alleged trafficking network. These findings contribute to the prosecution’s broader charge that the defendants engaged in ongoing drug distribution activities from multiple addresses.