Five central suspects arrested in whole-sale cocaine trafficking case

Between 1 and 2 October, the Colombian Police (Policia Nacional de Colombia) and the Spanish Guardia Civil, supported by Europol, targeted four key suspects, linked to the so-called Clan del Golfo, allegedly responsible for whole-sale cocaine trafficking operations from South America to Europe. In particular, the criminal network oversaw first-hand the production, transportation and distribution of cocaine throughout the entire logistics chains. To support field activities on the action day, Europol deployed two experts to Colombia and Spain.

This investigation is based on information retrieved from the Sky ECC encrypted communications platform. For a first time Colombia has used Sky ECC data in a judicial proceeding. As a result, data obtained from Sky ECC led to the launch of a judicial case, judicial cooperation, and ultimately the issuing of arrests warrants and seizures. International cooperation has been essential in this case. Europol developed criminal data from Sky ECC and provided operational analysis, facilitated the exchange of information and supported the case coordination.

The joint action days in Colombia and Spain led to:

• 5 arrests (2 in Colombia and 3 in Spain), 2 of which High Value Targets
• 7 location searches in Colombia
• Seizures in Colombia include: 25 properties, 9 companies and 17 vehicles with an estimated value of EUR 12 million

Crypto transactions of over 700 million illegal proceeds detected

The investigation targeted prominent High Value Targets linked to a Colombian drug cartel, who coordinated global drug trafficking activities from Colombia and other Central American countries to Europe. The suspects arrested on the action day played different roles within the network. Some maintained direct contacts with the so-called Clan del Golfo to secure large-scale cocaine supplies. Others managed connections with multiple European criminal groups to facilitate distribution across the continent. A third group focused on laundering criminal assets through complex schemes involving offshore companies and large transfers via cryptocurrencies. The investigation identified active cryptocurrency transactions with an estimated total of 700 million dollars. All targets are Colombian nationals, some base in Colombia and others – in Spain. During the action day, authorities in Colombia and Spain searched the suspects’ luxurious properties located in Pereira, Medellin and Bogota (Colombia) and Madrid (Spain).

This criminal network was responsible for large-scale international drug trafficking, organised through direct contact with the suppliers from the so-called Clan del Golfo and the distribution channels run by criminal groups in Europe. Cocaine was transported from Colombia to other countries in the region by speedboats and stockpiled in stash houses. The drugs were then shipped concealed in freight cargos to European ports. To sustain these operations, the suspects collaborated with other criminal actors based across several South American countries such as Panama, Costa Rica and Dominican Republic. Over the course of the investigation, significant quantities of cocaine were seized through a series of container inspections carried out both in South American and European Ports.

More information: Europol