A large anti-drug operation in the Spanish city of Águilas has resulted in the seizure of more than 10 tonnes of cocaine, placing at the centre of the investigation a criminal organisation of Albanian origin. The massive quantity of drugs was discovered in two industrial warehouses which, according to Spanish media, are suspected of having been used as the main bases for collecting and distributing the narcotic substance not only in Spain but also in other parts of Europe.
The initial discovery took place in the El Labradorcico industrial zone, under unusual circumstances. During the unloading of a pallet, it fell, damaging part of the cargo and scattering several packages of cocaine across the floor of the warehouse. Workers present in the premises quickly left the scene, abandoning their work equipment as well. A Municipal Police patrol, which had been notified of a possible workplace accident, arrived at the site but found no one in the industrial premises.
Following thorough checks, the authorities also discovered the second warehouse, bringing the total quantity of seized cocaine to more than 10 tonnes. Reports stress that more than 5 tonnes of cocaine were counted in the first warehouse, while the discovery of the second premises significantly increased the overall quantity. The value of this large consignment on the illegal market is estimated at over 100 million euros, making it one of the largest seizures in recent times.
One of the most important details uncovered during the investigations is that the boxes in which the cocaine was kept bore the exact addresses to which the drugs were meant to be delivered. This element is expected to help investigators of the Unit for the Fight against Organised Crime and Drug Trafficking accurately reconstruct the distribution network, determine the destinations of the shipments and identify the key individuals behind the organisation of this international trafficking.