Guardia Civil dismantle group bringing drugs into Spain in motorbikes

The Guardia Civil have dismantled an organisation that used motorcycles to transport important amounts of drugs from Spain to Europe. Based in Andalucia it is one of the most important criminal organizations dedicated to drug trafficking out of Malaga, Granada and the Campo de Gibraltar.

During the operation, called TOLOMEO, 35 people of different nationalities, including Spanish nationals, Moroccans, Romanians, English and Guinean, have been detained for their involvement and 4,000 kilos of hashish as well as goods valued at more than €6.200, 000 have been seized.

Investigations commenced in May 2013 when the Guardia Civil received information about an organized group allegedly involved in the traffic of hashish between Morocco and the rest of Europe. The network was structured into various groups each one with their own special task such as storage, transfer and finance with the aim of being able to continue their activity in the event of any of the groups being discovered.

The gang brought the narcotic substance directly from producers in Morocco, bringing them in later as contraband to the coast of Spain with the help of numbers of lookouts along the coast to warn them of any police presence. Once the drugs reached the shores of Spain, it was then hidden in safe places nicknamed “guarderias” or nursery day care centres, where another group was in charge of its safekeeping until it could be distributed to the rest of Europe. In case one the members of this group was arrested then a member of their family would assume the responsibility.

Specially adapted high power motorcycles with stabilisers and luggage carriers were used to transport 100 kilos on each trip.

The motor bikes were all high powered to enable a fast getaway in case of police interception and driven by experienced riders. Each motor bike was equipped with panniers and up to 100 kilos of drugs was distributed evenly inside them with the use of precision instruments to ensure balance.

The operation completely dismantled the entire organisation from the suppliers to the distributors throughout other European countries. The Guardia seized 3.897 kilos of hashish, 13 vehicles, one sports boat and two rubber dinghies with a total value of  €6.274.168The investigations were carried out by agents of the Team Against Organized Crime (ECO) of the Central Operative Unit of the Guardia Civil based in Malaga and other units of the same unit in the other zones involved.