Two Irish nationals arrested in connection with drug smuggling operation

Natalia Penza

Police in Spain have smashed an intentional drug smuggling operation allegedly led by two Irish nationals.

20 kilos of marihuana buds, a kilo of cocaine and 80 grams of heroin have been seized by Costa cops.

Detectives say the gang’s modus operandi consisted of concealing drugs they had acquired from other criminals in household electrical appliances they had couriered to other EU countries.

The suspects were nabbed after a long-running investigation by Civil Guard officers in Murcia in south-east Spain and Valencia further north up the coast linked to a police traffic stop which revealed the Irish nationals were using false documents.

Spanish police said one of the men held had an “extensive criminal record” in Ireland.

In a lengthy statement about the arrests and operation released today, a spokesman for the Civil Guard in Murcia said: “The Civil Guard has carried out an operation called ‘Iris 24’ in Murcia and Valencia against international drug trafficking that has so far resulted in the arrest of two people considered members of the leadership of a criminal organization specializing in the distribution of narcotics.

“During the operation, Civil Guard officers seized more than 20 kilograms of marijuana buds, one kilogram of cocaine, and 80 grams of heroin, as well as several items related to drug trafficking, such as vacuum sealers, precision scales, and tools for packaging drug parcels.

“The investigation began in 2024, when specialist Civil Guard officers from Murcia and Valencia, respectively, began to work together after detecting activities related to international drug trafficking through parcel delivery services.

“The initial inquiries confirmed the international scope of the network, which also had a high level of criminal activity relating to the acquisition and subsequent shipment of different types of drugs to other European countries.

“The gang’s modus operandi consisted of acquiring cocaine, heroin and marihuana from other narco networks and dividing the drugs into packages weighing between 100 grams and two kilograms which they later vacuum-sealed to make detection during police checks more difficult.

“The substances were hidden in false compartments built into household appliances and shipped through parcel delivery services.

“The criminal group stood out for its sophistication in concealing its identity when making shipments, since it took numerous security measures to avoid detection, through the use of false documents and identities and the continual change of residences between Murcia, Alicante, Valencia and Tarragona, as well as the use of shipping methods with fewer registration data requirements.

“During the operation, which involved the collaboration of authorities from the United Kingdom, Ireland, and the Czech Republic, the Guardia Civil detected around twenty shipments of cocaine, heroin, and marijuana.

“These were delivered to various parcel delivery points and intercepted by Guardia Civil officers at Valencia Airport before leaving the country.

“The collapse of the leadership of this group was triggered at a checkpoint in Los Alcazares in the province of Murcia, when local police officers in the coastal municipality detected certain indications that the ID documents shown by the two occupants of a vehicle appeared to have been falsified.

“Specialists from the Civil Guard’s Judicial Police fully identified both occupants and confirmed that they were key members of the criminal group they had been investigating for more than two years.

“The Civil Guard arrested both individuals as alleged perpetrators of the crimes of belonging to a criminal organisation, crimes against public health related to drug trafficking, and falsification of public documents.

"In addition, the driver was charged with a road safety offence for driving without the required driving license.

"Among those arrested is the main leader of the organisation, who was also identified as being responsible for numerous parcel shipments and who has an extensive criminal record in his country of origin, Ireland, for similar offences.

“The operation is still ongoing, and further arrests cannot be ruled out.”