A SUSPECTED high-level drug trafficker has been arrested in Estepona on allegations he laundered of millions of euros in drug profits into property on the Costa del Sol.
The man is accused of funnelling the proceeds of cocaine he allegedly trafficked through the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands into a Malaga real estate portfolio.
The individual, who the Spanish police dubbed the ‘financial architect’ of a Netherlands-based criminal organisation, was detained in a joint operation with the Dutch Politie (police) in June.
The arrest came as part of an operation to dismantle a criminal network accused of running large shipments of cocaine into Europe through Rotterdam and laundering the proceeds through the Costa del Sol property market.
Investigators say he channelled at least €4million in drug money into property purchases across Málaga province using fake loan contracts to disguise its origin, before quietly transferring the properties into relatives’ names to make them harder to trace back to him.
Police have now blocked €4million worth of property linked to the scheme.
He is also accused of acting as a laundering ‘service’ for multiple criminal organisations beyond his own, using shell company structures to feed drug money into Spain’s legitimate economy.
Police believe he recently organised a shipment of more than 1,000 kilos of cocaine bound for Rotterdam.
Four other people were arrested alongside him as officers raided five addresses in Málaga province and three in the Netherlands at the end of June.
Searches turned up five firearms, three high-end vehicles, a drone, 40 mobile phones, jewellery worth around €170,000 and a luxury watch.
All five have been charged with belonging to a criminal organisation, drug trafficking, money laundering and concealing assets to put them beyond the reach of the courts.
The alleged ringleader has been remanded in custody over the money laundering charge, while two Dutch nationals among those arrested have already been handed over to authorities in the Netherlands under European Arrest Warrants.
Police said the operation was brought forward over fears the suspect could flee Europe for a country with no extradition treaty with Spain. He was also wanted in connection with separate investigations in other European countries, including Belgium.
Officers said the case remains open, with further action against the network’s wider financial structures not ruled out.
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