European Cops Dismantle Drug Group Across 5 Countries

Story By: Juan Fenandez Mayes,  Sub-Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency:  Newsflash

This is the moment authorities raid several residences across five countries dismantling an international drug trafficking operation and resulting in 16 arrests.

Newsflash

The arrests were done during an international operation between the Spanish National Police, the Belgian and Dutch authorities and coordinated by Eurojust.

Eurojust is a European Union agency which deals with judicial cooperation among agencies in member states.

The suspects are all aged between 25 and 68 but have not been named.

Newsflash

Authorities suspect the group smuggled cocaine through Spanish ports by camouflaging it in fruit containers which were then distributed to other European countries, mainly Holland.

The Spanish National Police conducted 17 raids around the Malaga and Alicante provinces located in the southern autonomous community of Andalusia which lead to eight of the arrests on 16th September (Wednesday).

The video shows the moment cops conduct the raids and display several luxury items such as cars, jewellery and decorative items after entering the large homes.

Newsflash

Some equipment associated with drug trafficking is also seen, such as Dallas scales and vacuums for packaging.

According to a Spanish Police report, the operation was “simultaneously” carried out in “different locations in Spain as well as Holland, Belgium, Hungary and Slovakia” and included “almost 1,000 officers” who found “narcotics, weapons and cash”.

The report added: “In the operation, agents seized EUR 70,000 (GBP 63.932) in cash and jewellery valued at EUR 400,000 (GBP 365,294 ) as well as 22 vehicles, three motorcycles and one boat valued at EUR 3.6 million (GBP 3.2 million).

Newsflash

“In addition, five simulated small-arm weapons, several magazines and a bulletproof vest have been seized.”

Dutch police have asked “Spanish and Belgian authorities to hand over the detained” according to that same report, however, did not mention why.

Although none of the people that were arrested have been identified, a police spokesman told Newsflash “most of them are Dutch.”

Newsflash

The suspects have been placed under the custody of the Central Instruction Court three “which has been studying the case in secret since 2017.”

They are suspected of drug trafficking and money laundering within a criminal organization.

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