Spanish law enforcement agencies dismantled an international drug trafficking ring based in Valencia, arresting five individuals and intercepting shipments sent to 45 countries, according to the Guardia Civil.
The operation, led by the Guardia Civil’s Organised Crime and Drug Team (EDOA), culminated on September 9 with raids on properties in Anna and Alcúdia de Crespins. Investigators seized 172.5 kilograms of various illicit substances, 26,000 euros in cash, and manufacturing equipment. According to the Guardia Civil, the network utilized encrypted messaging services to take orders and dispatched postal packages worldwide since launching operations in 2025.
Investigation Traced MDMA Seizure to Valencia Laboratory
The investigation began after authorities in Ghana intercepted a 100-gram package of MDMA originating from Valencia. By following this supply chain link, investigators uncovered a sophisticated production and distribution operation centered in the Spanish regions of La Costera and Canal de Navarrés, as reported by the Guardia Civil.
The group manufactured and packaged narcotics in clandestine labs before shipping them via standard postal services, including the Spanish postal provider Correos, which assisted authorities by blocking pending shipments. International partners intervened locally, with law enforcement in Romania and Hungary intercepting specific parcels and arresting recipients. Europol coordinated operations involving Dutch authorities, while the EDOA managed overall cross-border cooperation.
Seized Substances and Global Shipping Routes
During the September 9 raids, police secured a vast inventory of drugs packed for international transit. The seized inventory included 116.5 kilograms of ketamine, 18.4 kilograms of methamphetamine, 6.9 kilograms of cocaine, 8.8 kilograms of hashish, 1 kilogram of heroin, and 20,000 doses of LSD. Officials also recovered 20.85 kilograms of additional substances, 25 kilograms of cutting agents, and 41 kilograms of precursor chemicals.
According to the Guardia Civil, the organization routinely mailed parcels to destinations spanning at least 45 countries, including Italy, Hungary, Romania, Australia, the United States, Thailand, Taiwan, and Sri Lanka.
Suspects Face Drug Trafficking and Identity Theft Charges
The five detained Spanish nationals range in age from 18 to 44 years old. Following their arrests during the Valencia province raids, four of the suspects were placed in detention, while the fifth was released under conditional terms.
The group members are charged with drug trafficking, membership in a criminal organization, and identity theft. Investigators noted that the network relied on stolen identities to mask its postal operations and evade law enforcement detection.
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