The Spanish Police have dismantled, in a joint operation with Europol, an alleged criminal group suspected of buying, adulterating and distributing cocaine.
According to police information, three people have been arrested when they tried to transfer 101 kilograms of cocaine from an industrial warehouse located in the municipality of Torrejón de Ardoz (Madrid).
The suspects pretended to transport scrap metal and used a van in which they hid the drugs inside several appliances in a state of abandonment to avoid raising suspicions.
In addition to the narcotic substance, the investigators have also seized 55,000 euros in cash, a vehicle and four mobile phones.
The investigation began when the agents became aware of the presence of an organized group that allegedly distributed large quantities of cocaine from Colombia. The suspects were trying to settle permanently in the Spanish capital, according to police.
An 'experienced chemist'
Later in the investigation, the investigators managed to identify a person, whom the police describe as "an experienced chemist," suspected of buying and distributing the cocaine.
According to the police, this man was able to carry out first-hand checks to determine the degree of purity of the cocaine and, once acquired, proceed with its adulteration. Police say the suspect had been involved in other investigations for similar events.
Later, the investigators found another suspect, whom they describe as the "chemist's right hand" who was allegedly in charge of coordinating the organization's logistical aspects: collection, transport and storage of the drug.
According to the police, this person used to dress in a cleaning worker's uniform and pretended to collect municipal waste in a van. He took advantage of the trips in the van to transport drugs from one point to another in the Madrid region.
The arrests
Once the investigations were completed, the agents found out that the suspects were planning to collect a drug shipment in an industrial warehouse in Torrejon de Ardoz. After going to the scene, they arrested two people with 101 packages of cocaine of one kilogram each.
The drug was hidden inside several household appliances in a state of abandonment, which were allegedly treated as waste destined for a clean point. The chemist and presumed head of the criminal network, was later arrested when he left his home.
The court hearing the case has ordered pretrial detention for the three suspects.
