Police break up drugs gang that used humanitarian aid shipments to Ukraine as a cover

The Ukrainian contingent operated from the Costa del Sol, sending the drug to different European countries. Packaged marijuana was stored in a flat in Mijas.

During the investigation, the Guardia Civil stopped two Ukrainian-registered vans in Fuengirola with a total of 109 kilos of vacuum-packed marijuana, hidden in cardboard boxes. The four occupants of both vehicles were arrested.

Investigators carried out 11 house searches in Malaga province, seizing 740,400 euros, 25,250 US dollars, 20 kilos of marijuana buds, 1,000 marijuana plants, and a firearm, as well police equipment, including bullet-proof jackets and GPS tracking devices.

In this first phase of the investigation, 11 people were arrested for drug trafficking, belonging to a criminal organisation, illegal possession of weapons and electricity fraud, among other offences.

A second phase saw a further 14 arrests, in the provinces of Granada, Cordoba and Seville.