An alleged drug kingpin who fled his luxury Madrid home has been arrested in Morocco as police dismantled one of the largest networks trafficking hashish into Andalucia.
The investigation has resulted in 86 arrests across seven Spanish provinces, including three in Malaga, and the seizure of almost 11 tonnes of hashish.
The alleged leader was tracked down in Tangier on October 8 after evading capture during a wave of arrests in March.
He remains in custody in Morocco pending proceedings for his extradition to Spain.
According to Policia Nacional, he oversaw the network’s entire supply chain, negotiating with Moroccan suppliers and organising shipments by sea and road.
He also allegedly arranged vehicles and properties for storing drugs and coordinated those responsible for collecting, transporting, guarding and distributing shipments.
Police said the organisation moved thousands of kilos of drugs each month from Morocco to the Spanish coast.
Shipments were then transported to Madrid, where rented homes and properties in residential developments served as storage sites before distribution across Spain and other European countries.
Investigators dismantled seven such sites during the operation.
The inquiry began in early 2025 after officers discovered that the alleged leadership was using encrypted messaging platforms to coordinate its activities.
One early breakthrough came in December 2025, when police seized more than 2.1 tonnes of hashish from a home in Madrid’s Las Tablas neighbourhood.
Officers arrested several suspected senior members in March, but the alleged leader escaped after leaving his home in an upmarket Madrid development.
Further searches uncovered more than 960kg of hashish at a property outside Madrid and another tonne at a home in Sanchinarro.
A subsequent raid on an industrial unit in Silla, Valencia, yielded 4.6 tonnes allegedly awaiting transport to Madrid.
Across 33 searches, officers seized 10.8 tonnes of hashish, 21.8kg of marijuana, two long guns, four other prohibited weapons, 25 vehicles, 15 luxury watches and almost €466,000.
Police allege the organisation laundered its profits through fraudulent loans obtained using frontmen, fake salary payments, false invoices from shell companies and purchases and sales of luxury vehicles and property.
Of the 86 people arrested in Spain, 65 were detained in Madrid, ten in Guadalajara, five in Valencia, three in Malaga and one each in Burgos, Almeria and Girona.
Eighteen have been remanded in custody by the National Court judge overseeing the case.
The suspects face allegations of drug trafficking, money laundering and membership of a criminal organisation.
The investigation remains open, with further arrests and seizures not ruled out.
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
