Laurence DollimoreGUARDIA Civil have arrested 40 suspects in an anti-drug and money laundering operation covering Girona, Pontevedra, Madrid, Melilla, Malaga and Morocco.
Footage released shows cops raiding properties and uncovering 18 cars and 1.2 tonnes of cocaine.
The arrested include 34 men and six women of British, Spanish and Moroccan nationalities.
Some €13 million in cash was also seized while another 2.5 tonnes of cocaine were uncovered in Morocco, meaning 3.7 tonnes of the Class-A drug were unearthed altogether – a street value of €103 million.
Cops say the operation, run in conjunction with Europol and several other national crime agencies, has disabled an important criminal organization based in Spain and Morocco and which was directed from Venezuela by a Spanish citizen who is being hunted down.
A motorhome and three boats used for the transfer of the drugs were also seized.
The crime gang was able to move money by using people with limited financial resources and making them hide money among their belongings while travelling.
The investigation managed to intercept more than €4 million euros on flights departing from Malaga or Melilla to Venezuela, but how much they really got through is likely far higher.
