Police dismantle Port of Algeciras cocaine trafficking network

The Spanish Guardia Civil, with the support of the European union   Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) and its European Economic and Financial Crime Centre (EFECC), has dismantled a criminal network that trafficked cocaine from South America to the Port of Algeciras, in Spain.

Europol said the network was capable of controlling the maritime traffic of containers coming from South America and consisted of different employees who worked in various areas at the Port of Algeciras. These employees included a worker from a port container terminal, two workers from the Border Inspection Post, four from Auxiliary Maritime Services (SAM), and several stevedores, freight forwarders, consignees and carriers.

As a result of ‘Operation Jumita’, 29 people have been arrested and more than 1,600 kg of cocaine and more than €16.5 million seized.

The Guardia Civil initiated the investigation in August 2020 and at the end of April this year, intelligence was received suggesting the criminal network intended to introduce a large consignment of cocaine hidden among frozen mackerel and directed towards the Port of Algeciras.

Those arrested included a Spanish national who had been on the run since 2017 due to his involvement in another drug introduction operation, Europol added.