8 involved in large-scale cannabis trafficking have been arrested in Spain and Italy. The criminal network is linked to more than six tons of intercepted shipments of cannabis and hashish. Europol supported the Italian Financial Guard (Guardia di Finanza) and the Spanish Regional Catalan Police (Mossos d'Esquadra) in dismantling a major criminal network behind several tonnes of cannabis smuggled into the EU.
The investigation, also supported by Eurojust, has dealt a blow to the money laundering network that clears the illicit proceeds. In total, 78 arrests (58 in Italy and 20 in Spain), 104 searches (89 in Italy and 25 in Spain) and seizures of approximately 350 kg of cannabis (327 kg of hashish and 33 kg of marijuana), weapons, electronic equipment, documents and assets worth 845.000 euros, Europol said.
Six tons of cannabis and hashish
The criminal network had already suffered a blow in November 2022, when Europol supported a coordinated action that led to the arrest of 36 suspects of Albanian, Italian and Spanish nationality in Italy. Dutch and Spanish authorities have arrested six other suspects due to the execution of European arrest warrants.
Between 2019 and 2021 alone, law enforcement authorities in Italy and Spain seized more than six tons of cannabis and hashish, as well as cannabinoid-based electronic cigarette refills.
Organized crime
Criminal investigations started in Italy in 2019 and in Spain in 2022. Research was also conducted into human trafficking and the organizations behind it that may use platforms such as Sky Ecc and Ecrochat. Payments for the drug shipments were arranged through an informal banking system similar to hawala, known as fei-ch'ien. Operated primarily by Chinese nationals, this underground banking system allows the transfer of cash from one country to another through a network of trusted offices.
The money is not physically sent, but the offices compensate each other afterwards. The investigation revealed two separate networks: one involved in drug trafficking and the other involved in money laundering. Although different, the networks are connected through their leaders. The financial and asset recovery investigations are still ongoing.
Source: Europol.com (EN)
