On Friday, Spanish police introduced the takedown of a giant community transporting Latin American cocaine to Europe by boat in a world operation that concerned 50 arrests in eight international locations.

The investigation was launched by police in Spain and Nice Britain in June 2020, however shortly expanded, involving forces from 11 totally different international locations and supported by Europol, Europe's police company. stated a press release from the Spanish police.

In complete, they confiscated 1.5 tons of cocaine and seized eight ships used to move its product from Latin American and Caribbean nations to Spain. Europol launched a video exhibiting authorities opening bricks of cocaine on one of many ships, in addition to officers raiding properties, making arrests and discovering medicine, cash and firearms.

The narcotics have been shipped from loading factors in Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, Barbados and Panama to Spanish ports within the Canary Islands, the southern area of Andalusia and the jap metropolis of Valencia.

The chief, who was arrested in Norway, is a veteran drug smuggler referred to as “The Professor,” the assertion stated. Europol stated on Friday it had beforehand designated the chief as a “excessive worth goal”.

He had “greater than 20 years” within the enterprise, profitable the “full belief of the Colombian and Mexican drug cartels” with whom he coordinated shipments, he added.

The community additionally included members of the so-called “Balkan cartel” who have been “residing the excessive life” on Spain's southern Costa del Sol, the assertion stated.

However there was additionally a non secular component, police stated.

“The prison group appealed to a santero (witch physician) to obtain his blessing and for the success of his cocaine transport operations between Latin America and Europe,” he stated.

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https://www.cbsnews.com/information/cocaine-network-busted-europe-leader-the-professor/

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