One hundred euros tickets hidden in bags in the freezer, trucked olive boats to hide more money and weapons stored above the refrigerator. They are some of the surprises that several agents found when they registered one of the homes linked to the members of a criminal organization that had at least six years dedicating themselves to sending even hidden marijuana between animal feed. Up to 14 people have been arrested – 13 in Spain and one on British soil – and its heritage, which exceeded two million euros, has been blocked. It is expected that the analysis of your current accounts will allow even more money to emerge, according to sources in the case.
During the operation – denominated Epicureo– About 300 kilos of marijuana have been intervened both in Spain and in Ireland, although. “It was a very lucrative business,” says one of the researchers who has participated in the operation. The agent points out that if a kilo of marijuana costs in Spain between 1,200 and 1,400 euros, in Ireland the price rises up to 7,000 and 9,000 euros wholesale, although bulk can reach up to 20,000 euros.
The band was formed by four English, an Irish and nine Spaniards. The majority around between 50 and 60 years and have a history to make cocaine shipments, according to the same source. Old acquaintances of the British authorities, the police collaboration allowed to start an investigation last January, when it was learned that some of them were sending packages with some regularity abroad from Spain. No one knew what the merchandise or what was their destination, but the researchers of the IV group of organized crime in Malaga, belonging to the (UDYCO), then became their shadows.
There they discovered that one of the leaders had a merchandise company based in the Polygon Lauro Torre, in Alhaurín de la Torre, a municipality on the outskirts of the city of Malaga. The company had a truck that could carry up to 3,500 kilos, with which it simulated a legal activity that was not really. The one they repeated monthly was always very similar. First, the man was driving through different parts of the interior of the provinces of Malaga, Sevilla and Granada to acquire marijuana in small quantities. When I joined 60 kilos, I bought bags from feed to set up a pallet and, in one of them, hid the buds. Then he traveled 800 kilometers from the Costa del Sol to Zaragoza and, there, commissioned an international transport company – under a false identity – the transfer of the merchandise to Ireland. The journey continued by road through France and the Netherlands to, from there, go by boat to its final destination.
Most, prison
In February, the National Police agents seized one of those 60 kilos shipments. There they verified that it was not exactly the first: the transport company facilitated a battery of Albaranes that went back to 2019. In March, just a month later ,. After the first seizures, the organization decided to change its mode of operation. What they did not know is that they already had the researchers on top. In fact, the first arrests were made at the end of June when several of the members of the criminal group carried marijuana in a managed van to Madrid. Days later, there were more arrests when they tried to make a new shipment from the city of Antequera. The collaboration of the Song Garda (the Police of the Republic of Ireland) and allowed, in addition, to detain one more person in the Louth County, which was the one that received all the packages.
Police work has allowed the arrest of 13 people, in the municipalities of Estepona, Marbella, Mijas, Alhaurín de la Torre and Torrox, and there have also been arrests in Seville. Nine of them have already been sent to prison, although four have been released, judicial decision that the Prosecutor’s Office has already appealed.
The agents have made up to 12 home records. They intervened 95,920 euros in cash, 2,930 pounds sterling and $ 1,922. Also 630 marijuana plants, a semi -automatic gun and three detonating guns, as well as 11 vehicles, six luxury watches valued in more than 200,000 euros and numerous electronic devices. It has also proceeded to block movable, immovable property and financial assets that have a value that exceeds two million euros. And it is expected to emerge even more money in the analysis of the accounts of the arrested.
