A criminal network made up mainly of Albanian-speaking members, suspected of large-scale cannabis trafficking, has been dismantled in an operation supported by Europol. 107 people were arrested during a coordinated action day on 13 July involving police in Spain, Germany and Albania.
How the network operated
According to Europol, the group ran cannabis plantations in Spain, where the plants were grown and processed before being moved to other European countries. The organisation was clan-based and hierarchical, with branches abroad, and several of those arrested had previous drug trafficking records in other countries.
The plants were grown indoors using electricity diverted illegally from the grid. The stolen electricity is estimated at more than €1.6 million.
The operation
Around 400 officers carried out simultaneous searches at 42 locations in Tarragona, Barcelona, Girona and Castellón, followed by nine more searches a few days later. The results:
- 107 people arrested, including Albanian, Spanish, Slovak and Greek nationals
- 51 cannabis farms uncovered
- 25,000 cannabis plants seized
- €70,000 in cash and two high-end vehicles seized
Spain's National Police and the Catalan Mossos d'Esquadra led the work on the ground, together with German customs investigators, the Albanian State Police and Europol's European Serious Organised Crime Centre.
What this means for inmates and families
Large operations like this one often include people of many nationalities, and not everyone arrested plays the same role. For a foreigner arrested in Spain, the first days decide a lot: whether they stay in pre-trial detention, which lawyer takes the case, and whether the family can keep contact.
If a family member has been arrested in a case like this:
- Find out which court (juzgado) is handling the case and where they are held.
- Ask for an interpreter and make sure the consulate of their country has been informed.
- Get a lawyer with experience in drug cases and international investigations.
GC Libertad can help you find the right lawyer and keep in contact with your loved one. Contact us.
Source: Europol