Cocaine hidden in heavy machinery seized in Madrid

SPAIN´S National Police, the Guardia Civil and the Tax Agency have successfully seized more than 400 kilograms of cocaine in an operation that began in September 2015.

According to a Guardia Civil report on 21 January, investigating officers intercepted two separate shipments of the drug, which were concealed in heavy machinery for moulding plastics and shipped by boat from Guayaquil in Ecuador to the port of Valencia. 

From there it was taken by truck to Villena, Alicante, before being moved to a final destination in the Colonia Marconi industrial park in southern Madrid. 

Those involved were operating behind a network of companies, which made it possible for them to transport the large amounts. The gang´s leader is said to be a Madrid resident, aged 36. 

Fourteen people were arrested and charged with crimes against public health, money laundering and membership of a criminal organisation. 

Those charged have since appeared before a judge, who sentenced 13 of them to imprisonment.