The Civil Guard, in collaboration with the National Police of Ecuador, within the framework of what has been called Operation MONDRAGON, has dismantled an international criminal organization dedicated to the introduction of large quantities of cocaine through various ports in Spain, mainly Malaga, Algeciras and Valencia.
To achieve this, the main suspects allegedly established a complex corporate network that served to give the appearance of legality to imports from South America and to camouflage the drugs in some of these shipments.
More than 21 tons of cocaine seized in 2024
Throughout 2024, several police operations were carried out that led to the seizure of several containers with a total of 21 tons of cocaine in Brazil, Ecuador and in the Spanish ports of Malaga, Algeciras and Valencia.
As a result of these actions, arrests were made of those involved in some of the operations, as well as the collection of evidence and clues against the true organizers of the criminal activity who operated mainly between Spain and Dubai.
Complex international criminal structure
The criminal organization was composed of three branches. The first, the main Spanish branch, was made up of Spanish and Moroccan citizens and was responsible for creating the business structure necessary for importing containers from South America. Its function was to give the activity an appearance of legality and to provide a destination for the legitimate cargo.
The second branch of the network originated in Ecuador, from where most of the seized drugs originated. From the country’s main logistics hubs, primarily the port of Guayaquil, they controlled the “contamination” of the containers that would ultimately reach Spain.
The third branch, based in Dubai, consisted of investors of Albanian origin who injected large amounts of money into Spanish companies, which in turn served as payments to provide them with activity and thus camouflage large periodic shipments of drugs.
First arrests and searches in Ecuador
In March 2025, the first phase of the investigation was carried out in Ecuador, dismantling the branch based in that country and resulting in 50 house searches in various parts of the country, as well as the arrest of 36 people.
This operation involved personnel from the Central Operational Unit (UCO) integrated into the Ecuadorian police force.
Arrests and house searches in Spain
In Spain, as a result of this investigation lasting more than two years, house searches and arrests have been carried out in the provinces of La Rioja, Alicante, Seville and Cadiz.
The operation resulted in the arrest and investigation of eight people and the seizure of approximately one million euros in cash found during searches carried out in the town of Arnedo (La Rioja). Numerous properties, vehicles, and financial assets have also been frozen.
The operation was carried out by the Central Anti-Drug Group of the Central Operational Unit of the Spanish Civil Guard and the National Police of Ecuador (UIACE and UIPA). It was coordinated by Europol and the Technical Unit of the Judicial Police (UTPJ) through the GDIN project.