Ten British nationals have been arrested in connection with a large international cocaine smuggling ring after a three-year investigation. The probe uncovered a sophisticated network moving tonnes of cocaine from South America to Europe, involving expats and businesswomen laundering drug money.
Seven of the arrested Brits lived in Malaga, Spain, with one residing in Portugal. Half of those detained are women, who are believed to have played key roles in the money laundering aspects of the operation.
The breakthrough came on December 18, 2023, when French navy officers intercepted a Spanish-registered yacht approximately 1,200 miles east of Martinique. Authorities seized 1.2 tonnes of cocaine on board. The yacht’s skipper, a 30-year-old man from Stornoway, Isle of Lewis, along with two other British nationals, were arrested at the scene.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) estimates the street value of the seized drugs in the UK to be around £96 million.
Additional seizures and arrests have been made through joint efforts involving the Spanish Policía Nacional, Norway’s National Criminal Investigation Service, the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Europol, and other agencies. These operations have resulted in the confiscation of an extra 0.3 tonnes of cocaine. To date, 52 individuals have been arrested.
Alongside the drugs, authorities seized eight boats, 36 vehicles, firearms, and ammunition during the investigation.
The cartel is reportedly led by a Norwegian trafficker with over 20 years of experience. Intelligence gathered since 2020 revealed a British gang operating in Spain, managing a fleet of vessels transporting cocaine from South American countries including Brazil, Colombia, and Guyana to European ports such as Valencia, Alicante, and Malaga.
The group maintained close connections with Colombian and Mexican cartels, coordinating drug production and shipments directly to Europe.
The investigation also exposed a global money laundering network primarily operated by businesswomen reinvesting drug proceeds. Among those arrested in Malaga were three women from Boston, Lincolnshire, aged 19, 28, and 38, as well as women from Essex and Nottingham, and men from Yorkshire and other areas.
Other notable arrests include a 37-year-old man from Bracknell living in Portugal, the yacht skipper from Lewis, and a 34-year-old Scottish man.
Neil Keeping, the NCA’s Spain regional manager, commented: “This Spanish-led operation dismantled a major drug crime group and arrested 10 British nationals – eight from England and two from Scotland.”
He added, “Our international network shared intelligence that helped intercept massive drug shipments, much of which was bound for the UK where it fuels violence and misery.”
“Fighting global crime like this takes strong partnership. We will keep working with international agencies to smash these networks.”
The successful operation highlights the importance of global cooperation in combating drug trafficking. Authorities continue their efforts to track down and dismantle remaining members of the cartel.
Originally published by UKNIP.
