A mafia accused of laundering drug trafficking profits through nightclubs and restaurants has been dismantled in Andalucia.
The operation, codenamed Trajano 23 Sorela, led to the arrest of 11 people and the investigation of a further suspect.
The Guardia Civil uncovered what they described as a sophisticated corporate network designed to disguise millions of euros generated by organised drug trafficking.
The investigation began in August 2025 after intelligence revealed a complex web of companies based mainly in the provinces of Sevilla and Cadiz.
According to investigators, the network used businesses spanning the hospitality, nightlife, property, tourism, vehicle sales and events industries to funnel illicit cash into the legitimate economy.
Many of the companies were concentrated around El Puerto de Santa Maria and Sevilla, where restaurants and nightlife venues allegedly served as key fronts for laundering criminal proceeds.
Investigators also uncovered links between members of the organisation and the promotion of major music and entertainment events across Spain.
The Guardia Civil said several suspects held shares in the company behind a well-known national music festival, although the festival itself has not been identified.
Officers believe the group’s businesses were particularly well suited to disguising illegal income because of their high volumes of cash transactions and frequent financial transfers between companies.
The operation culminated on July 1 with simultaneous raids at 15 homes, offices and business premises in Dos Hermanas, Pilas, El Puerto de Santa Maria and Cadiz city.
During the searches, officers seized €1.86 million in cash, ten luxury watches, valuable jewellery and gold items, as well as ten vehicles, including six high-end cars.
Authorities also froze around ten properties worth more than €1million combined and blocked almost 20 bank accounts linked to individuals and companies allegedly involved in the scheme. Investigators said the balances held in those accounts exceeded €1million.
The operation involved specialist units from across the Guardia Civil, including organised crime investigators, tactical support teams, sniffer dog units and intelligence analysts.
The suspects face a raft of allegations including money laundering, membership of a criminal organisation, bribery, misconduct in public office, embezzlement of public funds, disclosure of official secrets, misuse of privileged information and influence peddling, all allegedly connected to organised drug trafficking.
Two of the alleged ringleaders have been remanded in custody while the investigation continues.
The Guardia Civil says the operation has successfully dismantled the criminal network operating across Sevilla and Cadiz.
Cocaine ring dismantled
The Guardia Civil investigation comes as the Policia Nacional also announced a major cocaine trafficking bust spanning Huelva and Sevilla.
In that separate operation, officers arrested nine suspected members of an organised crime group accused of importing and distributing cocaine across the two provinces.
Police said they seized 20kg of cocaine hidden inside the rear lights of a vehicle, along with €100,000 in cash, a thermal imaging device and a long firearm.
During searches, officers also rescued a titi monkey that was being kept illegally at one of the properties. The animal has since been released into the care of specialist authorities.
