Spanish police have dismantled a major Spain–Mexico criminal network accused of supplying synthetic drugs across Europe.
It comes after they uncovered nearly €3million hidden in an underground bunker beneath a marble warehouse.
The operation, carried out by the Policia Nacional in cooperation with the US’s Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), marks the second phase of Operation Saga, which in May 2024 led to the seizure of 1.8 tonnes of methamphetamine – the second-largest haul ever recorded in Europe.
In total, nine people have been arrested, including a member of the Sinaloa Cartel who had been hiding in a flat in Madrid, and the owner of a marble company allegedly used to smuggle drugs from Mexico concealed inside stone shipments.
All suspects face charges of membership of a criminal organisation, drug trafficking and money laundering. Three have been remanded in custody.
Europe’s main meth supply hub
The investigation, led by Audiencia Nacional Central Investigating Court No. 6, began in 2023 and exposed what police describe as Europe’s main methamphetamine distribution hub, operating through Tenerife, Madrid, Valencia and Alicante.
Following the 2024 seizure, investigators discovered that the network had not collapsed but was attempting to reorganise financially and operationally.
That effort was uncovered in July 2024, when officers intercepted a new shipment of 40 kilos of methamphetamine hidden inside the base of a marble statue more than 1.5 metres tall, destined for Tenerife.
The intended recipient – described by police as a long-established trafficker on the island – was arrested immediately.
Paid to stay silent
As the investigation continued, police located a Sinaloa Cartel member who had been living almost entirely indoors in a Madrid flat. Investigators say he was paid €2,500 a month in exchange for remaining silent about his involvement in the transport and storage of the original 1,800-kilo shipment, part of which had passed through Alicante.
The network’s international reach was further confirmed when 38 kilos of marijuana sent to Finland were intercepted with the help of Finnish customs authorities. The recipient, who had travelled to the Nordic country specifically to collect the drugs, was arrested.
Marble firm used as cover
A key breakthrough came with the identification of a marble company allegedly used as a front to import methamphetamine from Mexico hidden within stone cargo.
During a search of one of its industrial units, officers discovered almost €3 million in cash concealed in a bunker beneath the floor, evidence police say highlights the scale of the organisation’s finances.
Investigators also arrested the alleged leader of the cartel’s transport network, responsible for coordinating operations between Mexico, Dubai and Europe.
Searches carried out at seven properties across Valencia, Alicante, Malaga and Madrid led to the seizure of luxury watches, mobile phones, GPS tracking devices and ammunition.
Police say the operation has now completely dismantled what they consider the most powerful synthetic drug trafficking organisation ever uncovered in Europe, amid growing concern among authorities about the expansion of methamphetamine on the continent.
