POLICE in Marbella have dismantled a drug trafficking network operating out of the Las Albarizas district.
Officers from the Policia Nacional arrested 11 people in a two-phase operation that uncovered an extensive system of hidden tunnels, allegedly used to move drugs and evade law enforcement.
The crackdown targeted several linked properties in Marbella.
Investigators say a family-based criminal group established multiple active drug sales points.
The first phase of the operation took place earlier this year, resulting in the arrest of three suspects involved in the distribution and street-level sale of narcotics.
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Police recently launched a second, larger phase in the same neighbourhood, making eight additional arrests and carrying out five simultaneous house searches.
During the raids in Las Albarizas, officers seized 133g of hashish, 111g of marijuana, 3.08g of tusi and 5.76g of cocaine, along with €2,400 in cash.
Investigators described a highly-organised structure in which different individuals carried out specific roles, including street sales and surveillance of police movements.
Some suspects reportedly did not reside in the targeted properties but moved in and out to avoid detection.
Police documented more than 40 drug seizure reports during surveillance operations.
They noted the difficulty of monitoring activity due to rapid exchanges and lookout systems from balconies.
One of the most striking discoveries was a network of underground tunnels beneath the neighbourhood.
Suspects allegedly used the tunnels to transport drugs between properties and escape police surveillance.
Officers say the tunnels formed part of a wider system designed to frustrate law enforcement efforts and conceal evidence.
The second phase of the operation included five coordinated house searches with support from canine teams and aerial surveillance.
Specialised units trained in underground and structural searches also joined the operation.
The initial investigation identified repeated drug dealing activity from several occupied buildings in the area.
Officers say the main suspect often sold drugs from behind a barred entrance while associates handled distribution and lookout duties.
Police described the dismantled network as a ‘structured and persistent’ operation that established deep roots in Las Albarizas.
All 11 suspects now face charges related to drug trafficking. The investigation remains ongoing.
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