A massive police operation saw 32 suspected members of a powerful 'Ndrangheta mafia syndicate linked to torture and murder arrested in popular tourist hotspots across Spain.
The raids, aimed at dismantling a large scale drug trafficking and money laundering ring, targeted 40 addresses in Ibiza, Barcelona, Malaga and Tenerife, according to Europol. More than 500 law enforcement officers took part on the ground with the support of helicopters, drones and dog-units.
The operation followed a joint investigation between the Spanish Guardia Civil, the Italian Carabinieri and Guardia di Finanza, as well as Europol. Officers seized 18kg of amphetamine, 4.5kg of cocaine, a number of firearms and ammunition and €300,000 in cash.
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A cannabis farm with around 600 plants was also dismantled as part of the operation. A statement from Europol said: "The investigation uncovered the existence in the Balearic Islands in Spain of an organised crime group linked to the ‘Ndrangheta syndicate. The criminal gang is believed to have played an active role in cocaine and cannabis trafficking in between Spain and Italy, using vehicles equipped with hidden compartments and speedboats to transport the drugs.
"The members of this criminal organisation would routinely use violence, including torture, to further their criminal goals. Some of the arrestees are linked to a number of murders in Italy. The investigation also uncovered the illegal possession of firearms by some members of this gang. The criminal profits were reinvested into real estate in Spain to hide their illegal origin, polluting the legal economy."
The 'Ndrangheta are believed to be the most powerful Italian mafia clan operating in Europe. The Cosa Nostra mafia clan, based in Sicily, have suffered heavy prison sentences due to powerful anti-mafia laws and members agreeing to co-operate with the authorities, but the 'Ndrangheta's tight, family based structure has proved more difficult to crack.
The clan, based originally in the Calabria area of Italy, are believed to be responsible for vast swathes of Europe's cocaine trade and also have huge influence in Australia.
Europol, headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands, supports the 27 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime, and other serious and organised crime forms.
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