Eleven individuals connected to a criminal organization were arrested by civil police as part of a major bust involving marijuana and stimulant shipments. Investigators revealed that the group operated with a transnational reach, moving narcotics from Spain into Central Europe and beyond, with the drugs concealed inside everyday water thermoses as a disposal-friendly concealment tactic. The seizure of 202 kilos of marijuana and 100 cannabis products marks a significant disruption to this illicit supply chain and underscores the extent to which the organization relied on concealment and layered logistics to evade authorities.
The operation, named Zeleno by the Civil Guard, targeted a network believed to be centered in Malaga and stretching across Central Europe. The group reportedly comprised Central European and North African members who coordinated a pipeline that transported narcotics from the southern coast of Spain to various European destinations. Law enforcement sources indicated that the concealment method—stashing drugs within water thermoses—was chosen specifically to blend with legitimate travel and shipping patterns, complicating detection at border controls and transport checkpoints.
During the investigation, authorities confirmed that the organization maintained a broad procurement and distribution framework. Members allegedly purchased large quantities of marijuana and other illegal products and then moved the stash through convoys and secure transport arrangements. The operation relied on a mix of commercial and protected vehicles, and at times involved maritime shipments. In essence, the drug flow was designed to ride legitimate logistics networks, leveraging the appearance of ordinary freight to conceal illegal cargo across multiple legs of the journey.
To support their logistics, the group established a structured operational model, including a legal business front used to obscure the scale and purpose of their trafficking. Investigators identified a workshop in San Pedro de Alcántara, a neighborhood in Marbella, where tools and means for processing and concealing the narcotics were reportedly prepared. A warehouse in Lucena, Córdoba, was also linked to storage and staging, enabling the organization to maintain a steady supply while coordinating with other nodes in the network. The deliberate use of a cover company illustrates how the cartel attempted to legitimize its operations and minimize scrutiny from authorities and financial oversight bodies alike.
As the inquiry progressed, authorities mapped the roles within the organization. One segment handled administrative duties, ensuring the continuity of operations, while another group managed transportation and storage within legal cargo streams. A separate faction was responsible for moving narcotics from initial points of origin to secure ships, acting as the critical bridge between sourcing and distribution. A final cohort appeared to oversee the juvenile market side, a callous reminder of how some criminal networks exploit vulnerable segments of society to sustain demand and profits.
Following searches at multiple locations, law enforcement opened 14 properties for inspection, seized seven high-end vehicles, and dismantled two enclosed growing operations located under roofing structures. The operation also yielded a pistol, a ballistic vest, and a substantial amount of police equipment typically associated with organized theft or other criminal ventures. The breadth of the seizure illustrates the level of organization and the resources the group had deployed to maintain their enterprise, shielding illegal profits through a combination of violence, intimidation, and sophisticated logistics.
Overall, the Civil Guard, operating under the OCON-SUR regional command, reported that the operation significantly disrupted a criminal network capable of moving hundreds of kilos per month across Andalusia and into Central Europe. The bust claimed a pivotal foothold against a broader trafficking scheme and demonstrated the persistent vigilance of law enforcement teams tasked with monitoring cross-border criminal activity. The seized quantities, coupled with the operational infrastructure dismantled during the raids, underscored the organization’s capacity to transfer narcotics along multiple channels, maintaining a readiness to adapt to law enforcement pressures and shifting logistics to avoid detection.