A new sophisticated ‘narco tunnel’ hidden beneath an industrial unit has been uncovered by Spanish police.
The underground network in the north African enclave of Ceuta was allegedly used to smuggle tonnes of drugs between Morocco and Spain.
It is the second such tunnel discovered in the Spanish territory within a year.
The operation, led by the Policía Nacional, has exposed a major trafficking network capable of moving tonnes of hashish into mainland Spain and across Europe – including in Marbella.
The hidden passage was concealed beneath a warehouse refrigeration system, with access disguised behind a large soundproof unit.
According to police, the structure was designed by one of the gang’s alleged leaders – dubbed the ‘narco architect’ or ‘tunnel master’.
The tunnel itself was highly advanced, featuring a vertical shaft for access, a mid-level chamber used as a ‘drug storage room’ and a final passage connecting directly to Morocco.
It was equipped with rails, wagons, pulleys and cranes to move large quantities of hashish, allowing smugglers to operate without direct contact or visibility.
Investigators described it as a ‘labyrinth more typical of a mine’.
The network operated between Ceuta and Morocco but extended across Spain, including the Costa del Sol, where a police chase in Malaga led to the seizure of hundreds of kilos of drugs.
The investigation began in early 2025 and uncovered a large-scale operation involving international logistics and heavy transport.
Among the seizures:
– 510kg of hashish linked to a house fire in Ceuta
– 432kg intercepted in Cabrerizas Altas
– 480kg seized after a chase in Malaga
– 1.5 tonnes of hashish discovered in a lorry in Almería
– Additional drugs found across multiple raids
In total, officers seized more than 17 tonnes of drugs, along with €1.43 million in cash, 66 communication devices and 15 luxury vehicles.
More than 250 officers took part in coordinated raids across Ceuta, Marbella, Huelva, Los Barrios in Cadiz and Pontevedra.
A total of 27 people have been arrested, including two alleged ringleaders – one based in Morocco and another operating from Ceuta.
The Moroccan-based suspect, believed to be behind multiple tunnels, was arrested on March 26.
Police say the network had the capability to transport drugs using heavy goods vehicles and had built a sophisticated infrastructure designed to avoid detection.
And with a second tunnel now uncovered in just 12 months, authorities warn this could be part of a wider, ongoing strategy to bypass border controls entirely.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
