AN IRISH national has been arrested in the Murcia region for running an international drug trafficking operation based in Spain.
The man was detained at a Policia Local checkpoint in Los Alcazares after producing fake identity documents.
He has a criminal record in Ireland for drug offences.
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The car’s driver was a member of the criminal gang and was also charged for driving without a licence.
Both men face prosecution for drug trafficking and forging public documents including bogus Irish passports and driving licences.
Operation Iris was launched by the Guardia Civil in 2024 to bust the network that bought drugs in Spain which were then exported in parcels containing electrical goods to various European countries.
The investigation also involved assistance from police in the UK, Ireland, and the Czech Republic.
The probe included searches of addresses in the Murcia, Alicante, Valencia and Tarragona areas.
Over 23 kilos of marijuana, one kilogram of cocaine, 80 grams of heroin, as well as vacuum packaging machines, precision scales and material for the packaging of the parcels were seized.
Drugs were split into packages ranging from approximately 100 grams to two kilograms.
They were vacuum-sealed to hinder detection and hidden in false bottoms of household appliances and other objects, such as juicers, air pumps, and wine coolers, which were then parcelled up.
Shipments were then made via various international parcel courier companies across Europe.
Around 20 drug shipments were intercepted at Valencia Airport before they could leave the country.
The Guardia Civil said the gang took multiple security measures to avoid being caught which included false documents, stolen identities to rent vehicles, and the use of forged Irish passports and driving licences.
Gang members also constantly changed their residences to make it difficult to locate them.
Operation Iris is still ongoing with the aim of making further arrests.
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