A coordinated operation involving law enforcement agencies from several European countries, with the support of Europol, led to the arrest of members of an international criminal network and the seizure of over one ton of cocaine at the Port of Valencia.
According to Spain’s Ministry of the Interior, which reported the operation on Saturday, 20 individuals linked to a transnational drug trafficking organization were arrested. Most of the suspects had been hiding in Spain.
During the operation, searches were carried out in both Spain and Belgium. Authorities seized more than 1,000 kilograms of cocaine, firearms and prohibited weapons, €15,000 in cash, eight luxury vehicles, a truck with a trailer, and several virtual wallets.
The investigation began a year ago after the discovery of a criminal group using the Port of Valencia as a key smuggling route. The traffickers concealed cocaine by attaching it to containers carrying legal cargo, allowing the drugs to be transported without the knowledge of shipping companies.
Once the shipments arrived in Valencia, the cocaine was discreetly retrieved and transported across the country in heavy trucks. According to the Interior Ministry, some of the arrested individuals have ties to the Belgian chapter of the “Hells Angels” gang, which was responsible for handling logistics and securing drug shipments.
