Authorities in Spain and Italy have taken action against two organized crime groups operating in Spain and Milan suspected to be involved in drug trafficking, money laundering, and extortion. The two criminal groups operating in Spain are suspected to have close ties to the ‘Ndrangheta mafia.
Police officers from Spain and Italy worked in collaboration with Eurojust and Europol. In total 32 people were detained, and 40 locations were searched in Ibiza, Barcelona, Malaga, and Tenerife.
In addition, the authorities recovered 300.000 euros in cash, 18 kilograms of amphetamine, 4.5 kilograms of cocaine, as well as weapons and ammunition.
A 600-plant cannabis plantation was also destroyed during the raid.
Spanish authorities focused their investigations on a local organized crime group that was mainly involved in money laundering and drug trafficking. The accused allegedly brought substantial amounts of cocaine from South America to sell in Ibiza using sailing boats. To hide their illicit activities, the criminal organization also operated a number of enterprises in Ibiza, including real estate agencies and vacation rentals.
In Italy, on the other hand, the investigation concentrated on a mafia-style criminal organization in Milan that allegedly has close ties to the leader of one of the most powerful families of the Calabrian mafia.
It is believed that members of the ‘Ndrangheta moved to Spain and became involved in extortion and racketeering to the detriment of local businesses.
Investigators also discovered that suspects in Ibiza had taken over real estate companies and vacation rental properties to conceal their illegal activities and launder the proceeds of crime.
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