Spanish Civil Guard Dismantles Major Cocaine and Arms Trafficking Ring

The Civil Guard has dismantled a major criminal network that trafficked cocaine and illegal weapons between Andalusia and the Canary Islands. Known as "Operation Embarcadero," the ten-month investigation ended a smuggling ring that moved over a ton of narcotics into Tenerife by using stolen identities to ship parcels from Madrid and Seville.

The operation is a significant victory for law enforcement, not only because of the large quantity of drugs seized but also because it shut down a dangerous black-market arms trade. Following an initial raid in November 2025—which uncovered a soundproofed workshop used to manufacture and modify firearms—police have now captured the group’s remaining leadership, including the second-in-command.

Coordinated between police in Seville and Tenerife, the final phase of the operation resulted in four new arrests and the investigation of a fifth individual already in custody. A judge has ordered three of the suspects to be held without bail. Authorities also crippled the gang’s finances by freezing bank accounts and seizing properties, high-end vehicles, jewelry, and electronics, all of which were funded by their criminal activities.

The gang used sophisticated methods to bypass security, stealing identities to ship more than 50 kilos of cocaine per week. By seizing a variety of weapons—including handguns, modified blank-firing guns, and stun devices—and dismantling the group's money-laundering infrastructure, security forces have successfully severed a dangerous supply route that had been operating between the Spanish mainland and the Canary Islands.