German drug lord arrested in Marbella: four tonnes of cannabis and cocaine network from Bolivia
A German citizen led a trans-continental drug trafficking network from Marbella, classified as a high-value target by Europol. Nine people arrested following 35 raids in Spain, Germany and Austria.
German narco network leader arrested in Marbella with proceeds exceeding eleven million euros
A German citizen who lived as a businessman on the Costa del Sol was running one of the largest drug trafficking operations jointly investigated by Spain and Germany from Marbella, according to ABC. The operation concluded in June with nine arrests, eight in Germany and the leader himself in Marbella, all of them remanded in custody.
The investigation began in April this year following Spanish-German police collaboration after detecting an alleged criminal organisation based in Marbella dedicated to importing large quantities of cocaine from Bolivia destined for Europe. The suspect was listed in Europol's databases as a High Value Target and had a record for his participation in other gangs, where, according to investigators, he acquired experience in managing trafficking networks.
Cocaine from Bolivia, marijuana from Málaga
The network operated on several fronts simultaneously. On the one hand, it organised maritime shipments of cocaine from Bolivia to Europe; on the other, it distributed marijuana from Málaga province to various European Union countries. A previous seizure of 1.3 tonnes of marijuana made in Germany, whose origin pointed to the Costa del Sol, was one of the elements that linked the suspect to the organisation.
To manage cocaine shipments, the leader travelled frequently to Brazil, where he developed a key network of contacts for logistics operations. Income from drug trafficking, which could exceed eleven million euros, was reinvested in property—typically commercial premises—as a money laundering mechanism.
35 raids and more than four tonnes of cannabis seized
The operational phase was executed last June with 35 entries and raids distributed between Marbella (3), Germany (31) and Austria (1). The various raids resulted in seizures of more than four tonnes of cannabis, 27.5 kilos of cocaine, approximately 1.5 kilos of crack and 800 litres of amphetamine oil—a quantity sufficient to produce more than 3.2 tonnes of amphetamines—along with a clandestine laboratory, five firearms, eight vehicles, 18 mobile devices and 126,000 euros in cash.
Two-way intercontinental routes
Investigators found that the organisation used the same maritime routes in both directions: ships loaded with amphetamines and other laboratory drugs travelled to America, from where they returned with cocaine. Marijuana, for its part, was produced in clandestine greenhouses in Andalucía; areas such as Granada province were among the main cultivation points.
Nine arrested and charges for criminal organisation
The operation concluded with the detention of nine people. All defendants are charged with criminal organisation, trafficking in narcotic substances and money laundering. The entire operational structure was maintained in Germany, while the network leader lived on the Costa del Sol with a businessman profile.
Source: ABC