The criminal network behind the largest synthetic drug seizure in Spain had its base of operations in Ibiza

A shocking image due to the large amount of ecstasy pills on display that were seized and stored as part of operation 'Adriatic', the largest seizure in the history of this substance seized in Spain that took place this September 5. In total, more than one million narcotics weighing 357 kilograms were seized, which could be worth more than 25 million euros.

"The anti-drug operation carried out by the Guardia Civil in Ibiza has led to the arrest of eight people on the island and one in Malaga. The detainees belong to one of the main criminal organizations of introduction of synthetic drugs in Spain that operated in different points of Europe", informed this Tuesday the colonel Alejandro Hernandez, responsible for the Armed Institute in the Balearic Islands, affirming that the criminal network was based in Ibiza, where up to eight searches were made. In one of these searches, specifically in a home on the island, the largest quantity of drugs intercepted in this operation was intercepted, and drugs were also discovered in three vehicles that were seized in several farms in Ibiza. These are cars with double bottoms that have different holes to hide narcotic substances and, in this way, to transport the drugs without being discovered by the agents.

However, he added that, after several months of a complicated investigation by the Judicial Police of the Guardia Civil, this network, which had been established in Ibiza for years, was finally dismantled.

"The agents have been straddling between different countries and between different islands since the operation began at the end of April," he stressed, highlighting that the ringleaders of the criminal network lived in Ibiza throughout the year. "The dismantled network had been established in Ibiza for many years", he insisted, emphasizing the great work carried out by the Anti-Drug Organized Crime Team of the Civil Guard of the Balearic Islands and by the Ibiza staff in the arrest of these nine people.

Released on bail

In this sense, he explained that, of the nine arrested, seven have been imprisoned and two of those arrested have been released on bail. However, he said that the investigations are still open and new arrests are not ruled out, although he indicated that the details of this operation remain secret. They also explained from the Civil Guard how this criminal network introduced the drug in these vehicles caleteados and, subsequently, this band moved to the island.

"The organization used 'mules' to transport the drugs. After the investigation of this trafficking crime, and as a result of other previous anti-drug operations, we began to detect the existence of an organization that introduced the narcotic substances in Ibiza", highlighted Alejandro Hernández, referring to the 'Dragon Ball' operation against drug trafficking that took place two years ago in Ibiza.

"This criminal organization, which we have just dismantled, had settled in Ibiza after other actions by the Benemérita had dismantled other organizations that trafficked designer drugs", added the colonel. In relation to the transport of narcotics within the framework of the Adriatic operation, he stated that one of these vehicles was located at the Spanish-French border through Irun and a double bottom was discovered in which 25 kilos of synthetic drugs were hidden. These included MDMA, ketamine and ecstasy.

In the same vein, he also pointed out that, during this drug trafficking, several members of this criminal network moved to the province of Malaga with the intention of expanding in the area, but, once it was possible to identify the main members of the gang, these nine people involved were arrested: five Italian nationals, three Spanish nationals and a Dutch woman.

Three Ibizans involved

According to Colonel Alejandro Hernandez, the three Spaniards arrested for this crime of drug trafficking and another of belonging to a criminal gang are all residents of the island of Ibiza.

"It has been a successful operation", noted with satisfaction the colonel himself just in front of all the seized doga: from plastic bags full of ecstasy and tusi to packets of pure cocaine were stored this Tuesday at the Guardia Civil Barracks. Sacks that will remain in the custody of the Civil Guard until the investigation is completed and the judge authorizes the destruction of this seized substance.

In total 212 kilograms of ketamine, 73 kilograms of MDMA, 20 kilograms of cocaine, 21 kilograms of pink cocaine, 10 kilograms of hashish and 6 kg of marijuana, in addition to 3 kilos of 'sugar', a substance used for the elaboration of pink cocaine.

THE APPOINTMENT

More than 1,000 reports and 127 detainees by the Civil Guard this summer

From the Civil Guard of the Balearic Islands highlighted, this Tuesday, during the press conference, that the anti-drug Operation Adriatic is part of the work carried out by the Civil Guard within the framework of Operation High Impact Zulu Bravo.    They reported that in this operation, and during the summer season, they have come to identify about 30,000 people on the island and have been controlled about 14,000 vehicles. "More than 1,000 reports have also been filed for different reasons and 127 people have been arrested", said sources. It should be recalled that this operation includes a large number of reinforcement agents of the Civil Guard moved from the Peninsula to Ibiza during the summer to carry out this operation for the second consecutive year. They are agents who reinforce the services of the Benemérita with elite units in order to control the most complicated tourist areas of Ibiza.