A drug trafficking ring that shipped marijuana to Ireland hidden in sacks of animal food has been brought down after more than five years of operating.
The organised crime gang was rumbled following a months-long probe by the Guardia Civil, Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA) and Ireland’s Garda Siochana.
Some 14 arrests were made – 13 in Spain and one in Ireland – as officers raided homes and warehouses across Malaga, Madrid, Sevilla and County Louth.
Footage shared by the Policia Nacional showed luxury villas being raided on the Costa del Sol and Irish members being led away in handcuffs.
In one clip, wads of cash can be seen being retrieved from a freezer during a house raid, before officers discover a gun and a large olive jar with a secret compartment.
The operation uncovered a total of €95,920 in cash, along with £2,930, $1,922 and 630 marijuana plants.
The gang, made up of British, Irish and Spanish nationals, had been smuggling marijuana since at least 2019, using freight companies to send disguised shipments to the UK and Ireland.
Each load was prepped and packed by the group to hide the cannabis inside animal food pallets.
During the coordinated takedown, police seized a firearm, 11 luxury vehicles and six designer watches and froze property and financial assets worth over €2 million.
The investigation began in January 2025, when officers linked a logistics route between Spain and the British Isles to criminal activity.
Surveillance confirmed regular monthly shipments over a six-year stretch, with the gang allegedly trafficking more than three tonnes of cannabis.
Some 12 properties were raided in Spain – 10 in Malaga province, one in Madrid, one in Sevilla – where officers arrested the bulk of the suspects.
In Ireland, the Gardaí searched a home in County Louth, arresting a key member of the network.
Over the course of the probe, police also seized 300kg of marijuana in separate operations.
The group now faces charges related to international drug trafficking, organised crime, and illegal weapons possession.
