The National Supreme Court condemned Ana Maria Cameno, known as the Queen of Coca, to a total of 16 years in prison and a fine of 21.2 million euros for leading a drug trafficking network that laundered proceeds through Panama and moved more than 100 kilograms of cocaine with an estimated street value around 15 million euros in 2014.
Last Wednesday, Division Two magistrates delivered a ruling accessible to Europa Press, assigning Cameno 12 years and one day for crimes against public health and four years for money laundering, while also granting a pardon reducing part of the prison term. The court did not convict him for illegal weapon possession, despite evidence that weapons were found at his residence. The total sentence falls short of the Prosecutor’s Office request, which sought 25 years in prison.
The court noted that Cameno was not charged with weapon possession due to insufficient proof that he placed or controlled the firearm or had access to it in any scenario. The gun’s presence alone was not enough to establish culpability in relation to the offense.
Legal sources told this news agency that the detention decision for the other defendants was announced at the hearing. Twelve inmates are expected to appear before the High Criminal Court at 10:00 this Wednesday.
drug delivery
The 97-page decision traces Cameno’s path from a prior suspect in various drug operations to a figure deeply involved in the distribution and sale of cocaine to third parties. The court describes a pattern of substantial distribution and sales linked to the network.
According to the ruling, Cameno maintained regular contact with suppliers and transport coordinators, and with his former partner, he oversaw interactions with the group responsible for providing technical, legal, and financial support for the drug trade and related payments.
To minimize risk, Cameno adopted extreme security measures, avoiding phone calls whenever possible, relying on intermediaries, and conducting face-to-face meetings in diverse locations and vehicles.
The court notes that Cameno used various means to transport cocaine for third parties, routing goods through hidden compartments and covert locations. Vehicles used for drug movements were operated by associates or collaborators who followed instructions for delivery to recipients.
Cameno and his partner formed the core structure of the organization, with others joining specific operations. The court identifies them as key players in a broader network that earned the nickname La Reina de la Coca, a title that signified the group’s leading role in the trafficking enterprise.
Judges emphasize that neither Cameno nor his partner engaged in legitimate work or businesses that would generate lawful income. They observed, however, a lifestyle that suggested substantial, unexplained wealth not aligned with any known regular earnings, reinforcing the view that income derived from drug trafficking sustained the operation.
Evidence of luxury rentals, high-end vehicles, and conspicuous spending supported the conclusion that economic gain came exclusively from illicit activity and the structure they organized to support it.
money laundering
In the court’s decision, Cameno and his partner assigned Marco Antonio Gómez as a trusted intermediary to launder drug proceeds, with David García providing a network to conceal funds and facilitate the process. The court recalls that police investigations into La Reina de la Coca began on June 5, 2014, following a routine discovery of 48,750 euros in a Majadahonda cafe basement. The discovery came after the main defendant encountered a contact, and he was later found with 10,000 euros and keys during the incident.
From that point, authorities traced significant sums moved through Cameno’s accounts on behalf of his partner and others, uncovering transfers to Panama. One early transfer occurred five days after the initial discovery, with an account created for the purpose of concealing ownership in the Universal Bank of Panama, using a straw man to hide true control of the funds.
When large sums were sent to Panama, disagreements among participants limited the transfers. Only 54,000 euros reached the intended destination, while the rest moved to Banddenia, the bank associated with José Miguel Artiles, without clear records of the final beneficiaries.
During the trial, some defendants asserted that they acted within the law, claiming they only sought to invest funds and were unaware that the money originated from illegal activities. The court found these statements lacking credibility, deeming them not credible and not reasonably consistent with the events described in the case.
The remaining defendants linked to Cameno’s operation received lengthy sentences. Graziano Molón and Carmen Cano were each sentenced to nine years in prison with a total fine of 15 million euros for crimes against public health. Miguel Ángel López received nine years with a 3 million euro fine for similar charges. Ruben Isaac Blanco, José Tomás Moya, and William Velasco faced durations ranging from four and a half to eight years, with corresponding fines in the millions of euros.
Regarding money laundering, the court sentenced David García to five years and a 1.2 million euro fine, while Marco Antonio Gómez, Guillermo Guadalix, Jesús Gil, and José Miguel Artiles received various penalties, with some accomplices acquitted of embezzlement. The verdict framed these outcomes within the broader narrative of the organization’s structure and its illicit activities, underscoring the extensive network that supported the drug enterprise.