La Línea de la Concepción, in the Cadiz region, has earned a reputation by some as a shadowed hub of illicit activity along Main Street. What once grew here, maize and tomatoes, has given way to luxury villas that rise in protected zones without permits or licenses. In the El Zabal area, locals and officials speak of a cluster known as VillaNarco.
Four years ago, there were 19 illegal structures tied to marijuana smuggling clans. Today, police data reported by Prensa Ibérica and its investigative channel, later accessed by CASO ABIERTO, indicate more than 100 such dwellings. A helicopter flight and drone footage have provided dramatic glimpses of VillaNarco.
everyone has a home
Within the network, sources from the National Police and GRECO say major organizations hold homes or nurseries in the area. VillaNarco sits on roughly 19,000 square meters. Names like Pantoja and references to footballer-linked clans appear as legends or rumors that officers encounter daily in the Strait of Gibraltar region.
Along narrow, dusty streets near Atunara beach, where cannabis is reportedly unloaded, the villas lack legal water or electricity connections and have no building permits. Everything is illegal. What look like candy kiosks serve as lookout posts, and locals are warned when a car that seems police-controlled approaches VillaNarco.
400 files
The mayor of La Línea, Juan Franco, notes there are around 1,300 illegal homes in El Zabal. Not all belong to traffickers, he adds, and there are hundreds of files open at the town hall for houses in the area. He admits there is insufficient staff to process them all and says a better system is needed to keep records orderly.
El Zabal includes VillaNarco within its borders, a region its residents recognize by its tall walls. Francisco Mena of the Drug Enforcement Association explains that fences are built to secure farms and orchards, with automatic doors opening into enclosed spaces where orchards sit inside.
in the forest
VillaNarco’s neighbors do not appear in census or property records. Police acknowledge they do not know every resident, and access to properties requires court orders. Yet judges provide only geographic coordinates rather than formal addresses, making investigations feel like exploratory missions through a forest. GRECO agents often accompany CASO ABIERTO on visits to VillaNarco, by land and air.
In the scope of illegal urbanization, cell phones frequently lose connection as traffickers install jammers. Security cameras monitor entrances and metal gates control access.
From the helicopter you can see a large Nemo fish carved from the bottom of a pond. And a giant elephant gushing from its trunk
on behalf of beggars
Most houses are not officially owned by the merchants themselves. Homeless individuals and beggars in La Línea reportedly pay around a thousand euros monthly to keep a place on their behalf. Luxury villas surface for the police, with eighty-year-old grandmothers found in some properties. In others, as much as one hundred thousand euros is hidden in kitchen towels. In many chalets, concealed spaces like closets, basements, under jacuzzis, and even in kitchen hoods are used for storage.
Aerial footage offers glimpses of VillaNarco’s interior, where neighbors are protected behind walls. At the bottom of a pool, a carved Nemo fish silhouette appears, as if part of a water park. Some villas feature slides, trampolines, and a giant elephant sculpture, with other dramatic elements visible from above.
You may also notice luxury carriages, a galloping horse, and an artificial turf field from the air. Some chalets display tires on shelves as a nod to ways shipments from Morocco might be staged.
Trick of strangers
A policewoman specializing in money laundering recalls visits to VillaNarco, noting expensive items left behind: Hugo Boss boots, Chanel boxes scattered on the floor, a Louis Vuitton phone valued at around 500 euros, gold pieces, a large Omega watch, and other luxury goods.
To dodge spending limits on cards, drug dealers and associates reportedly use foreign visitors to pay with cards in the Costa del Sol area, later returning the money through tips.
A helicopter flight provides early impressions of VillaNarco’s interior: residents shielded behind walls, a surreal poolscape with carved Nemo silhouettes, water slides, trampolines, and a giant elephant statue. Some chalets show parked vehicles that hint at marijuana shipments, seemingly awaiting a signal to move.
From the air, one can observe luxury carriages, a galloping horse, and an artificial turf field. In some properties, tires are stacked as if to simulate maritime loading activities.
Trick of strangers
A policewoman recounts how the most expensive clothes and brand-name goods appear during visits to VillaNarco; the list includes designer footwear, luxury boxes, and premium watches. The practice of using guests with unlimited card limits helps mask illicit spending and money transfers.
Land for a thousand euros
An operation in 2018 by the Civil Guard identified 19 drug trafficking buildings in the area. A police expert notes that attempts to prosecute land-use crimes face slow procedures and light penalties, making demolition difficult. Four years later, more than a hundred chalets have been built and occupied at VillaNarco. Traffickers have acted as housing promoters, buying large plots, dividing them, and paying in cash with the rest handled off the books. Some online listings still claim properties in VillaNarco are available for around one thousand euros.
One hundred thousand euros in water
The National Police continues tracking money trails, accusing traffickers of money laundering in schemes involving spouses who enjoy the proceeds. Some facilities in nearby El Zabal have been exposed as fronts, with high-end equipment and cash-intensive operations. A police officer notes that the financial engineering often evades bureaucracy and city investigations, forcing repeated starts when new owners appear after investigations reveal who was behind a house.
people with roots
La Línea’s narcotics history shaped VillaNarco into a symbol of local pride. Some traffickers remain, buying properties and returning to the neighborhood to blend in with long-time residents. The mayor recalls that some who earned substantial sums still visit Marbella or Ibiza, but many prefer to stay close to their roots in San Bernardo. They are seen enjoying luxury lifestyles and social events, sometimes on private cruises or at exclusive clubs, with social media posts documenting the displays of wealth.
“Jumanjis”
The town’s narcotics culture includes ostentatious displays, with upper-tier clothing and expensive cars. Onlookers describe a divide between those who flaunt wealth and those who keep a low profile, while some residents pose for photographs on the beach with seafood and well-known footballers in the background. The women involved are sometimes described as adopting bold fashion choices and cosmetic enhancements to fit the local image.
drug rap
This spring, authorities detected the first narco-rap phenomenon in La Línea, with songs tied to local figures and celebrations. Notable artists have released tracks that reference prison, corruption, and law enforcement with provocative lines, reflecting tension between culture and crime in the region.
In one instance, collaborations between artists highlighted the fraught relationship with law enforcement and the criminal economy, signaling a growing trend that blends music with the region’s illicit networks. The songs carry a charged, controversial tone that resonates with the community and law enforcement alike.