A sweeping joint anti-mafia operation involving Spanish and Italian law enforcement has struck a significant blow against a transnational criminal network. The network is suspected of large-scale hashish trafficking and money laundering.
The Catalan police force, Mossos d’Esquadra, worked in close coordination with Italy’s Guardia di Finanza. Over 120 officers deployed early Tuesday morning. The operation targeted a criminal organisation deeply rooted in Catalonia. However, its operational tentacles stretched across Spain and into northern Italy.
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Joint Anti-Mafia Operation: Raids Across Spain and Italy
Police executed simultaneous raids in multiple locations. Their goal was to dismantle the network’s logistics and financial structure. In Catalonia, officers searched properties in Badalona, Sant Adrià de Besòs, Mataró, Tiana, Calella, Montcada i Reixac, and Llorenç del Penedès.
Furthermore, the operation extended beyond the Catalan region. Agents conducted searches in Marbella (Málaga) and Tauste (Zaragoza). Meanwhile, Italian authorities simultaneously carried out interventions in Savona and Milan.
According to preliminary reports, 16 individuals have been arrested so far:
- 10 in the provinces of Barcelona and Tarragona.
- 3 in Zaragoza.
- 1 in Málaga.
- 2 in Italy (Savona and Milan).
Sources close to the investigation have indicated that several of the detainees are of Serbian nationality.
Joint Anti-Mafia Operation Targets Financial Logistics
While the immediate focus of the raids was to disrupt the international distribution of hashish and other narcotics, investigators are equally focused on the group’s money laundering capabilities.
The investigation is being directed by the Court of First Instance in Badalona and the Anti-Mafia Prosecutor’s Office of Milan. Authorities aim to clarify how the syndicate laundered the proceeds from their illegal trafficking operations. This follows a pattern of increased scrutiny on financial structures by these specific judicial bodies. In 2024, similar joint efforts targeted a Chinese mafia network using the ‘fei ch’ien’ method to launder money between Badalona and Italy.
Ongoing Investigation
The operation involved specialised units from the Mossos d’Esquadra. These included the Criminal Investigation Division (DIC), the Mobile Brigade (Brimo), the Rapid Response Area (ARRO), and canine units.
The case remains under judicial secrecy. Consequently, official figures regarding the volume of drugs seized or the amount of cash confiscated have not yet been released. Police activity is ongoing. Therefore, further developments may emerge as the searches conclude.
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