Rabat — The Spanish National Police announced on Wednesday the successful dismantling of two international criminal organizations engaged in large-scale hashish trafficking, following a joint operation with Morocco’s General Directorate of National Security (DGSN).
The coordinated effort led to the arrest of 20 suspects and the seizure of more than 22 tons of hashish concealed within shipments of green peppers transported from Morocco to Spain through the Port of Algeciras, in the province of Cádiz.
According to an official statement from the Spanish police, the operation was conducted with the support of the Public Prosecutor’s Office at the Tangier Court of Appeal, underscoring the depth of judicial and law enforcement cooperation between the two neighboring countries.
The investigation was initiated after Moroccan authorities shared intelligence that enabled Spanish law enforcement to identify two refrigerated truck convoys suspected of smuggling significant quantities of drugs.
The first convoy was intercepted in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, Cádiz, where officers discovered 12 tons of hashish hidden in double compartments behind boxes of peppers. Fifteen suspects were arrested during this phase.
Three days later, Spanish police carried out a second raid in the province of Granada, resulting in the seizure of an additional 8 tons of hashish and the arrest of five more individuals.
In total, authorities have detained 20 suspects on charges of drug trafficking and membership in a criminal organization. Police also confiscated nine vehicles, including trucks and trailers, one automatic weapon, and more than €7,000 in cash.
The Spanish National Police praised the “valuable collaboration” of Moroccan authorities, emphasizing that the operation reflects “the excellence of security cooperation between Morocco and Spain, based on mutual trust, efficient coordination, and a shared commitment to combating transnational organized crime.”
The joint success reinforces the growing partnership between Rabat and Madrid in tackling drug trafficking networks operating across the western Mediterranean, demonstrating the tangible results of enhanced security coordination and information sharing between the two nations.
BY: The Times Union
