The Civil Guard and the Foral Police have dismantled a criminal organization dedicated to the manufacture, adulteration, storage and distribution of synthetic drugs, mainly speed.
Operation Malandrona-Nautilus was carried out in ten phases, involving 19 searches and resulting in 20 arrests. Ten of those arrested have been remanded in custody.
During the operation, more than 220 kilograms of various narcotics were seized, including 192 kilograms of speed, 11 kilograms of MDMA, 7 kilograms of cocaine, 7 kilograms of hashish, 905 grams of ketamine, 468 grams of marijuana, 86 grams of 2C-B, and 15 grams of heroin, in addition to 9,695 ecstasy pills. Liquid amphetamine and various precursors and substances used in the manufacture and adulteration of drugs, such as methanol, sulfuric acid, and caffeine, were also seized.
In addition to the narcotics, the agents seized cash, five vehicles and two weapons.
Research development
The investigation began in October 2025, based on different information obtained in previous operations which, once analyzed together, made it possible to detect the possible existence of an organization based mainly in Navarre and dedicated to the trafficking of narcotic substances.
The initial operations took place in Tudela (Navarra), where one of the individuals considered the main leaders of the organization resided. As the investigation progressed, connections were established between different members, gradually revealing the structure and operation of the network.
The operation unfolded progressively in ten phases, during which investigators from the Civil Guard and the Navarre Regional Police targeted various members and locations used by the organization. The operation extended across Navarre and Gipuzkoa, with searches conducted in several towns in both regions.
This evolution has made it possible to locate properties used to store, prepare and adulterate narcotic substances, until reaching the place intended for the manufacture of synthetic drugs.
Different storage and preparation points
In both Noáin and Urnieta (Gipuzkoa), points intended for the adulteration of drugs were located, where various materials intended to carry out this process were seized, as well as caffeine, narcotic substances and drums with traces of liquid amphetamine.
Also in Ribaforada (Navarra), investigators located several sites used for storing drugs. During the searches, 46 kilograms of speed, ready for distribution, were seized.
The analysis of the different actions allowed the investigators to continue advancing until they located the place where the manufacture of large quantities of synthetic drugs was taking place.
The largest synthetic drug lab dismantled in Navarre
The investigation made it possible to locate in Rada (Navarra) a house used as a laboratory for the manufacture of synthetic drugs, prepared in different spaces, with equipment and materials intended for the different phases of the production process.
The investigators determined that there was a division of labor among those involved in production. Those in charge of the laboratory prepared all the necessary materials for production, from containers and packaging bags to blenders, measuring devices, and products provided by the organization itself, such as liquid amphetamine and precursors for manufacturing the drug.
Once all the materials were ready, a chemist—in the case of Rada’s laboratory, of Dutch origin (Netherlands)—was brought to the lab to carry out the manufacturing process exclusively. According to the analysis and observations made during the investigation, their time in the “laboratory” was limited to the time strictly necessary to complete production.
Once the moment when a new production was taking place was determined, the Foral Police and the Civil Guard established a device that allowed them to dismantle the laboratory and arrest five people related to this phase of the operation.
In this phase, number IX, after the house search, 103 kilograms of speed and 9.8 liters of liquid amphetamine were seized, in addition to 75 liters of methanol, 24 kilograms of caffeine and 20 liters of sulfuric acid, along with packaging machines, heat sealers, scales, containers, industrial mixers and other elements used in the production and preparation of the substance.
After being brought before a judge, the chemist and the two people who performed auxiliary tasks and resided at the home/laboratory were remanded in custody. According to the investigation, the operation dismantled the largest clandestine synthetic drug lab located to date in Navarre. Here, production was on demand, with quantities ranging from 50 to 400 kg of speed per batch, and synthesis could be carried out at any time.
The investigation was carried out jointly by the EDOA (Specialized Drug Enforcement Team) of the Navarre Civil Guard’s Organic Unit of the Judicial Police and the Health Crimes Group of the Navarre Regional Police. During the various phases of the operation, the Civil Guard’s Citizen Security Unit (USECIC), the Navarre Regional Police’s Special Intervention Group (GIE), and the Canine Units of both forces participated, along with other units that provided support in the different operations.