FLASH NEWS
One of the world's top drug traffickers arrested in Abu Dhabi
2025-06-23 14:35:11 / BOTA
Spanish police in collaboration with Europol, Interpol and the authorities of the United Arab Emirates have arrested one of the world's leading drug traffickers in Abu Dhabi. He has been on the run since Operation Pampa, carried out last year against an Albanian criminal organization.
According to a report from the National Police, the arrested person personally coordinated contacts with cocaine suppliers, as well as the transportation, storage, extraction and distribution of the drug in Europe through a network operating from Ecuador.
The investigation determined that the arrested person had a contract with Colombian suppliers to receive 4,000 kilograms of cocaine per month destined for the European market.
During Operation Pampa, in which 800 officers participated, 40 people were arrested in Spain and Ecuador, and 62 searches were carried out, which resulted in the seizure of more than 500,000 euros and 2,370,000 dollars in cash, military weapons and 12 luxury vehicles.
International structure
The organization used a wide network of European ports to smuggle drugs, including Antwerp, Rotterdam, Algeciras, Hamburg, St. Petersburg, Durrës, Gioia Tauro and Constanta, where it relied on collaborators mainly linked to the Albanian mafia.
The investigations uncovered a complex money laundering scheme involving the movement of large sums of money. In one case, one million euros were seized hidden in the trunk of a vehicle in Malaga.
The agents were able to reconstruct money laundering operations worth $36 million in Ecuador and €12 million in Spain, carried out through a global business network designed to invest the profits in real estate and entertainment businesses.
The leader of the organization remained on the run since last year's police operation, until the investigation led to his location in Abu Dhabi, where he was arrested thanks to international cooperation.
The Central Investigative Court No. 1 has requested his extradition to face trial at the National Court.
The investigation determined that the detainee personally controlled the entire drug trafficking chain, from contacts with Colombian suppliers to transportation and storage in Ecuador, where he had infiltrated personnel at the port of Guayaquil.
International reach
The criminal network was known for its ability to operate simultaneously in multiple European ports, demonstrating the high level of infiltration into the continent's port infrastructure.
The detainee will be extradited to Spain to stand trial along with other members of the organization.
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