Eight men, aged 24 to 58, were arrested in Málaga, Valencia and Girona after the National Police dismantled an international cocaine and hashish trafficking organisation operating from the Costa del Sol.[1] Two were detained in Marbella, two in Torremolinos, three in Cullera in Valencia and one in Girona.[2] After they appeared in court, a judge remanded three of them in custody.[2] The men were held as suspected authors of drug trafficking, membership of a criminal organisation, unlawful possession of firearms, vehicle theft and document forgery.[2]

Searches of six homes and one commercial premises in Málaga and Valencia, carried out in September, yielded 2.5 tonnes of hashish and 600 kilograms of cocaine from a single house, the National Police said in a statement reported by Europa Press.[1] Officers also seized a rifle, 13,000 euros in cash, five stolen high-end vehicles, 14 sets of fake number plates, plate-stamping equipment, signal jammers and fraudulent identity documents.[2]

The inquiry was run jointly by the Drugs and Organised Crime Unit (UDYCO, the National Police unit for drugs and organised crime) in Torremolinos-Benalmádena and its counterpart in Valencia, and began in May.[2] Detectives said the group bought cocaine and hashish in Portugal, stored and prepared shipments in Málaga and Valencia, and moved them by road toward European markets, mainly France, in high-end cars stolen in France and Belgium and fitted with forged plates.[2]

Eight men aged between 24 and 58 were arrested in Cullera, Marbella, Torremolinos and Girona.[3] Three of the eight were remanded in provisional custody, and the police account did not detail the status of the other five.[3] Officers searched six homes and one commercial premises and seized 2.5 tonnes of hashish and 600 kg of cocaine.[3] The investigation began in May 2026 and was carried out jointly by the Udyco units of Torremolinos-Benalmádena and Valencia.[1] Police said the group obtained cocaine and hashish in Portugal and used Málaga and Valencia as intermediate storage and distribution points before taking the drugs to France.[1] Officers also seized a rifle, €13,000 in cash, five stolen vehicles, 14 sets of false number plates, plate-stamping tools, signal jammers and false identity documents.[1] The eight were held on charges of drug trafficking, membership of a criminal organisation, unlawful possession of firearms, vehicle theft and forgery.[2] None of the eight has been tried, and all retain the presumption of innocence.[3]