Simon Wade
A VICIOUS drug trafficking gang has been dramatically captured during a house raid in Alicante.
The bust concluded an international investigation involving police forces from Spain, Poland and the UK.
The gang was involved in drug trafficking, arms smuggling, vehicle theft, violent crimes, smuggling of medical supplies and money laundering.
One tonne of marijuana was seized during the operation, along with 50 kilograms of cocaine, firearms and other various prohibited weapons.
Bank accounts containing more than €3.5 million were blocked, while a further three stolen vehicles and a number of properties were seized.
Investigations in July 2018 revealed a complex international drug trafficking operation with various business activities in Alicante used for money laundering.
Many are associated with hooligan gangs in Krakow with several of the arrested experienced in mixed martial arts.
During the early stages of the investigation, 68 suspects were arrested as several drugs plantations and homes used as nurseries were discovered.
Sources say between 2016 and 2019, the gang exported around 15 tonnes of drugs from Spain to Poland, the United Kingdom and elsewhere in Europe.
The leader is believed to have imported firearms from Albania, smuggling guns into Spain with medical supplies to be used during the COVID-19 pandemic.
After help from an insider within the cartel, 13 more were arrested recently in Spain and Poland, including the leaders.
Agents also discovered a tunnel under the leader’s house and a warehouse where a huge amount of surgical masks, COVID-19 rapid tests and swabs had been smuggled from China.
