The National Police, together with the US DEA and the Netherlands, have dismantled the “office” of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) in Spain, in an operation in which 20 people who were allegedly involved in introducing large quantities of drugs hidden in large industrial machinery from South America have been arrested.
Operation Oyamel
Dubbed Operation Oyamel, the agents seized 1,870 kilos of cocaine, 375 kilos of amphetamine, 275,000 euros in cash, cryptocurrencies worth $15,000, 3 short firearms, 15 vehicles and 14 kilos of silver.
According to the General Directorate of the National Police, agents from the Central Drug and Organized Crime Unit (UDYCO) found that this organization coordinated drug shipments – cocaine and methamphetamines – from a farm near La Adrada (Ávila) with branches in Bilbao and Valencia.
Meanwhile, from other properties located in Talavera de la Reina (Toledo) they received and sent the industrial machinery with the hidden drugs to Italy where there were links with the Neapolitan camorra. In fact, in September a first shipment of cocaine to the transalpine country was detected through a boss of the Amato-Pagano clan.
The Spanish National Police, together with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and police authorities in the Netherlands, dismantled the “office” of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG) in Spain, in an operation with 20 arrested in different parts of the country.
Among the 20 arrested in Madrid, Ávila, Bilbao, Valencia and Toledo – 15 have been imprisoned – are a Spanish businessman in charge of providing logistical support for this office of the Mexican cartel with several commercial companies and laundering drug money through them, two priority objectives of the DEA and several members of the Italian camorra.
Reactivated structure and a shipment from Costa Rica
The investigation began months ago when the introduction of cocaine into Spain hidden in large-tonnage industrial machinery was confirmed, taking advantage of the business network of this Spanish citizen, one of the main objectives at the service of the cartel.
Investigators consider that the organization had reactivated its operational structure due to the arrival of a shipment of drugs, hidden in large-tonnage industrial machinery, incorporating new Mexican members expressly sent by the cartel.
The operational phase of the investigation was carried out in two parts: one aimed at the arrests of the core of operations and another against the key distribution points in the provinces of Valencia and the Basque Country.
At the time of the exploitation, and in coordination with the authorities of the Netherlands, a shipment from Costa Rica with narcotics hidden in the industrial machinery of a maritime container was intercepted.
The operation has been directed by the Central Court of Instruction Number 2 of the National Court and by the Special Anti-Drug Prosecutor’s Office.
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