Fifteen arrests as ‘Fearsome Calin’ drug trafficking gang is dismantled in Spain

Fifteen people dedicated to the introduction and distribution of cocaine in Spain were arrested in the operation. They included the leader of the network: Carlos Julio Matos Montero, known as the ‘Fearsome Calin’. Montero was arrested as he was about to catch a flight from Lisbon to his native country of the Dominican Republic.

This police operation culminated in numerous searches in Madrid (7), Alcorcon (1), Getafe (1), and Granada (1). Officers seized 83 kilos of cocaine, 28 telephone terminals, a revolver, seven vehicles, two scales, and numerous documentation.

According to the investigators, the detainees controlled numerous points of sale in different parts of the national territory such as Cantabria, Asturias, and Madrid.

The investigation was launched in April 2021 when the police learned that a man of Dominican origin was allegedly responsible for sending a woman to Lanzarote with 60 balls of cocaine. She was subsequently arrested at Madrid airport.

Officers found out that “the fearsome Calin” was behind it, and thanks to the investigations carried out, they identified the member of the organisation in charge of their distribution of cocaine in Asturias and Cantabria.

At the end of February, this gang member travelled to Granada and then returned to Madrid. As a result, several cars were intervened and 3.5 kilos of cocaine was discovered hidden in a concealed compartment. He was arrested, along with two other people, and all were imprisoned.

The final recipient of the drugs, and leader of the organisation was found to have fled to Portugal upon realising the arrests had occurred. A European Arrest Warrant was issued and he was finally arrested by the Portuguese Judiciary Police when he tried to escape from Lisbon.

Two other men who were allegedly responsible for the sale of cocaine and money laundering were also arrested. Investigations pointed out that those two could be the owners of a suitcase seized at Lisbon airport, in October 2021. It contained 30 kilos of cocaine, and two other suitcases were located at the same airport at the end of January 2022, with 50 kilos of the same substance.

Collaboration between the International Cooperation Division and the Interior Attache of the Spanish Embassy in Lisbon made it possible to arrest this March the traveller whose name was on the suitcases, and the presumed owners of the seized cocaine.

Among these six arrested was a woman who used false documentation from Belgium to hide an arrest warrant issued against her for drug trafficking. All those arrested went to prison, as reported by laopiniondemalaga.es.

🚩 Desarticulada una organización criminal de tráfico de #cocaína liderada por “el temible Calín”

Hay 15 detenidos, entre ellos el líder, y se han realizado 10 registros en #Madrid, #Alcorcón, #Getafe y #Granada en los que se han intervenido 83 kg de droga pic.twitter.com/cC7yC6Hfhe

— Policía Nacional (@policia) March 26, 2022

___________________________________________________________

Thank you for taking the time to read this article, do remember to come back and check The Euro Weekly News website for all your up-to-date local and international news stories and remember, you can also follow us on Facebook and Instagram.