Spanish police thwart drugs gang who laundered money

A GANG of nine who laundered more than €2 million obtained through drug-trafficking through the purchase of real estate, luxury cars and financial products have been brought to justice by the ever-busy Guardia Civil.

The gang comprised of a mafia-style faction, which involved the wives of the alleged ringleaders, plus one of their mothers.

Investigations began following an earlier operation in which 35 people were arrested, with over 300 kilos of hashish, 120 grams of cocaine, 30 vehicles, two jet skis, 13 boats and €127,000 in cash were seized.

Detectives established that two leaders of the organisation, based in Cadiz and Oviedo, respectively, had created a complex system of financial engineering in order to launder profits gleaned from drug sales, purchasing property, cars and other items in the names of unemployed family members and close friends.

Upon his arrest in the Campo de Gibraltar, one of the men was carrying €8,000 in cash, which he said was to cover his “daily expenses.”