Drug cartel grind to a halt with six major arrests in Colombia. 5.8 tonnes of cocaine seized and 32 arrested as law enforcement cooperation between the EU countries and Colombia intensifies

In a long-term investigation supported by Europol, law enforcement authorities from Belgium, Colombia and Spain have dismantled a drug ring orchestrating large-scale cocaine trafficking from Colombia to the EU. The national authorities involved arrested 32 individuals in total, including the leader of the network. Law enforcement also seized 5.8 tonnes of cocaine in Colombia (Cartagena and Baranquilla) and on European soil in Spain (Barcelona and Valencia) and Belgium (Antwerp). The sting was coordinated by Europol’s Operational Taskforce.

This operation follows the arrests of two high-profile Camorra fugitives, falling under different investigations, and which were made in October in Colombia. International cooperation established between Europol and strategic countries in South America, such as Colombia, has proven essential for the advancement of large-scale investigations and the dismantlement of criminal cartels smuggling tonnes of cocaine to Europe. This cooperation is a key element of successful law enforcement operations targeting drug trafficking and serious and organised crime networks, which impacts the security of citizens in the EU and beyond.  

Results of the action day on 5 November 2024:

• 6 arrests in Colombia (Baranquilla, Cartagena, Colombia Medellin and El Guamo);
• 5 house searches; 
• Seizure of cell phones and documents.

Overall results of actions targeting this criminal network:

• 32 arrests in Colombia and Spain (26 made in 2023);
• 5.8 tonnes of cocaine seized in Belgium, Colombia and Spain;
• Seizures of assets including movable properties and real estates.

Combatting corruption to cut off the logistical chain  

The investigation, conducted under Europol’s Operational Taskforce targeting the large-scale cocaine trafficking from source countries in Latin America, was initiated in April 2023. The operational activities focused on identifying how the network operated and who was behind it. The analysis of operational information gathered during the seizures identified that most of the members of the criminal network were based in Spain and Colombia.
On the action day this week, the Colombian National Police arrested individuals playing different major roles within the organisation. Among the six suspects are the alleged ringleader, investors, coordinators of the trafficking operations, corrupted authorities and workers along the logistical chain.  

The investigation uncovered that the targeted drug cartel was capable of exporting significant amounts of cocaine through commercial vessels. The suspects used different maritime routes. They concealed cocaine inside containers and then shipped the cargo to European ports from several Colombian harbours, such as Cartagena and Barranquilla.

Maritime trafficking and commercial vessels play a crucial role in the large-scale exportation of narcotics. The ring members collaborated with corrupted authorities to avoid police and custom controls during the different phases of the cocaine trafficking. Identifying and intercepting the corrupted officials was crucial in dismantling the full chain of command and logistical organisation of this cartel. Large-scale drug trafficking requires complex logistical organisation, drug cartels tend to corrupt authorities to facilitate drug trafficking along the different phases, from production to exportation.

Europol’s support and Operational Taskforce

During the investigative activities, Europol coordinated the exchange of information between national authorities, bringing them together to efficiently target the entire drug trafficking network. In addition, Europol provided continuous intelligence development and analysis to support investigators. This intelligence allowed law enforcement to uncover a full picture of the covert network operating across various countries and continents. Intelligence provided by Europol contributed to some of the seizures made during the course of these investigations. During the action days, Europol deployed experts to Colombia to provide analytical and technical support to officers in the field.

Law enforcement authorities:

• Colombia: Colombian National Police (Policía Nacional de Colombia)
• Belgium: Belgium Federal Police (Federale Politie/Police Fédérale) 
• Spain: Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) and National Police (Policia Nacional)