The National Police has arrested in Palma de Mallorca the leader of a criminal organization dedicated to drug trafficking, dismantled in an operation carried out in Murcia. In total, twelve people have been arrested, accused of crimes such as drug trafficking, illegal possession of weapons, attempted murder and membership of a criminal group.
An organization with a highly hierarchical structure
The investigation began in July 2023, when the specialized drug trafficking unit detected the activity of a criminal group operating in Murcia and using significant security measures to avoid detection. The group was led by a ringleader, who had a trusted team and a network of collaborators in charge of specific functions such as security, transportation of substances and preparation of vehicles with double bottoms.
Shootings and searches in several locations
The arrest operation began on January 16 in the Torre Pacheco district of Roldán, Murcia, when two of the main suspects were about to carry out a cocaine transaction. At that moment, one of the suspects opened fire on the agents with a firearm, although no one was injured. Following the arrests, the police carried out five house searches in Cartagena, Torre Pacheco and Aguilas, where cocaine was seized:
- 3 kilos of cocaine
- 6 kilos of marijuana
- 1.5 kilos of hashish
- More than 35,000 euros in cash
- One sawed-off shotgun and one semiautomatic pistol
- Numerous ammunition
- Vehicles used in drug trafficking
- GPS devices and a taser gun
Leader captured in Palma and 11 arrested in pre-trial custody
Following the operation in Murcia, the ringleader of the group managed to flee to Palma de Mallorca, where he was finally located and arrested. Eleven of the detainees have been remanded in custody, while all of them have been brought before the courts. This operation has made it possible to completely dismantle the network and prevent the distribution of a large quantity of narcotic substances.
