Police in Spain take down ‘one of biggest’ heroin suppliers in country

NATIONAL Police in Madrid have arrested a man they describe as one of the biggest suppliers of heroin in Spain. 

Known as El Capitan (The Captain) the Turkish citizen was one of 13 arrested accused of importing and distributing large quantities of drugs from the Netherlands. 

Police seized 25 kilos of heroin. €26,000 in cash, seven high-end vehicles, numerous telephones, a hydraulic press, four kilos of cutting substance, various materials and tools for handling drugs and documentation. 

The investigation began a year ago when agents detected an organisation dedicated to the introduction and distribution of large quantities of heroin from the Netherlands. Several months later, and after gathering evidence, the agents arrested two plot members and seized more than five kilos of heroin that were hidden inside tetrabriks. The drug was distributed in 10 packages of half a kilo each, ready for delivery. 

In the next phase of the operation, the agents managed to identify the head of the organisation and found that it was a Turkish subject who, in the opinion of investigators, is one of the largest distributors of heroin in Spain. In this phase of the operation, three other alleged gang members were also arrested, among them the leader’s lieutenant and expert in drug concealment, and a fourth member was located in Madrid’s Atocha train station when carrying a bag with a kilo of heroin. 

In the search of the lieutenant’s home, a house located in the Madrid town of Alcalá de Henares, the police intervened 19 kilos of heroin, more than €14,000 in cash, as well as numerous telephones. They also found documents ‘of interest’ which are being analysed. 

A few days later, another alleged member of the organisation was arrested, specifically the one who was in charge of receiving, contacting clients and subsequently distributing the narcotic substance throughout the southern area of Madrid. 

Finally, a large police operation was set in motion as the last phase. This was to find and arrest distributors of the heroin and resulted in the arrest of five others. In one of the house searches carried out, the agents discovered a detonating pistol which they allegedly used for the collection of debts.