A major international crime network trafficking weapons and drugs across Europe has been dismantled – with links to the Costa del Sol.

Police confirmed the group, made up largely of Turkish nationals, was operating out of several regions in Spain, including the Malaga town of Nerja, where two properties were raided.

Investigators say the gang was running a sophisticated operation which saw them bring firearms into Europe from the Balkans and Turkey, then exchange them for drugs inside the EU.

Officers seized more than half a tonne of marijuana and 76kg of hashish, along with an arsenal of weapons including semi-automatic pistols, silencers, and even a weapon of war.

The operation was led by Policía Nacional and Mossos d’Esquadra, with arrests spread across multiple countries.

In Spain, 18 suspects were detained in Catalonia and four in Andalucia.

Meanwhile, the alleged ringleader – described as a high-value target by Europol – was arrested in Sofia, Bulgaria, along with two associates.

Further suspects are also under investigation in Thessaloniki, Greece.

The network used specially modified vehicles and trucks fitted with hidden compartments – known as ‘caletas’ – to smuggle weapons into Spain.

At the same time, it was heavily involved in large-scale cannabis trafficking, sourcing marijuana from towns across Andalucía before distributing it across Europe.

The case began in October last year, when authorities detected suspicious activity involving Spanish and Turkish nationals linked to both drug trafficking and illegal weapons imports.

From there, investigators uncovered a highly organised structure coordinating supply routes, logistics and distribution across several countries.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.