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700 kilograms of cocaine are seized/ Two of the traffickers are caught

2023-08-22 16:03:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

700 kilograms of cocaine are seized/ Two of the traffickers are caught

Europol in cooperation with the Spanish Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) dismantled a criminal organization that smuggled large quantities of cocaine from South America to the EU through the Canary Islands. The operation also involved law enforcement authorities from Croatia, Italy and Serbia.

The investigation identified a major threat "The increased ability of criminal organizations to cooperate closely and place members in different locations for longer periods to enable large-scale drug trafficking." Therefore, the international cooperation of law enforcement authorities across the EU was crucial in apprehending the suspects and stopping their criminal activities.

The investigation, launched in March 2022, focused on a Polish-flagged vessel with a temporary base located in the Canary Islands and suspected of being used to transport cocaine. Since then, law enforcement authorities monitored the crew's activities. One of the individuals, an Italian citizen, was connected to the Italian 'Ndrangheta and the other, a Croatian citizen, was connected to the so-called Balkan Cartel. Although they had no professional activity, both enjoyed a high standard of living while keeping the vessel in excellent condition.

The suspicious vessel was making irregular voyages to demonstrate normalcy until July 27, 2023, when Spanish authorities discovered an unusual voyage to an isolated point deeper in the Atlantic Ocean.

The ship left there on August 2, and three days later Spanish authorities raided the ship and discovered 700 kilograms of cocaine on board. Meanwhile, officers on the ground in Spain arrested the Croatian suspect and another person, a Serbian national, both suspected of coordinating the overland drug smuggling operation. During the arrests, the phones from which they coordinated the criminal activity were found on the suspects./ CNA





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