A hashish smuggling operation bringing drugs into the country through Almeria and Murcia has been dismantled in an operation involving the Guardia Civil, the national police and customs. The operation, dubbed 'Macula Felix' by the Guardia Civil was started in December 2005 after the discovery of over 3 tonnes of hashish in the Cala de Enmedio cove in Nijar. Most of the drugs were hidden in a dugout.
As a result of the investigations the authorities uncovered a well organised operation with two distinct branches; one in charge of the logistical and financial side of the organisation, which was investigated by the Guardia Civil organised crime and anti-drugs team, and the other in charge of ensuring the security of the smuggling operations into the country, which was investigated by the internal affairs service of the Guardia Civil.
As a result of this operation the Guardia Civil and customs seized 2,100 kilos of hashish and arrested four people last March as they unloaded a boat off Retamar, Almeria, the same night 556 kilos of hashish, left by the same boat on the Playa Elena beach in Aguilas, were seized and two people arrested.
Another boat, the Nereus, flying under the German flag, was intercepted last May 30th off the Cartagena coast with about 4 tonnes of hashish on board and its crew of five was arrested.
The last arrests which led to the dismantlement of the smuggling ring were last week in Aguilas in Murcia. Four houses were searched and documents and computers were seized. Two men, presumed to be those responsible for planning the smuggling operations, were arrested.
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