A Spanish judicial investigation has revealed a large-scale criminal network suspected of managing extensive hashish trafficking operations from Morocco to Spain, with the goal of selling the drugs and laundering the proceeds through financial and real estate deals. The case, still open at the Spanish National Court, involves 22 individuals under investigation, with 14 held in pre-trial detention on charges of belonging to a criminal organization, drug trafficking, and money laundering.
The investigation began with Operation "Caldo" in September 2022, which led to the dismantling of an informal financial network described by Spanish authorities as a structure linked to European drug trafficking networks. Encrypted communications obtained by investigators through "EncroChat" and "Sky ECC" platforms revealed names and networks connected to drug trafficking and money laundering. This financial investigation led to Juan Carlos, alias "Moreno," who was found to be using this financial network to finance his drug trafficking activities.
Further investigation into Moreno's activities uncovered a large-scale drug trafficking operation, with evidence suggesting he led a criminal organization that imported large quantities of hashish from Morocco, receiving, distributing, and managing the profits. The network was capable of moving thousands of kilograms of Moroccan hashish weekly, with operations extending to several Spanish regions before transferring the drugs to Madrid for distribution to clients.
Morocco appears to be the source of the hashish in this operation, with a suspect identified as "El Loco," a Moroccan citizen with Spanish nationality, believed to be the supplier of the hashish. He fled to Morocco to avoid serving a prison sentence issued by the Spanish National Court. The investigation revealed a structured network that started with receiving, storing, and transporting hashish shipments and ended with managing the proceeds and laundering money.
The network allegedly used properties in Madrid and Andalusia to store drugs, with over two tons of hashish seized in one of the properties searched in Madrid. In the financial aspect, investigators suspect the network used companies and commercial operations to conceal the source of funds obtained from hashish trafficking, including issuing fake payrolls and invoices and buying real estate. Several companies and individuals are under investigation for suspected involvement in laundering these proceeds.
Businessman Juan Andrés González emerged as a key figure in the investigation into the network's financial trail, with his company allegedly receiving money suspected to be from trafficking Moroccan hashish. González was arrested and is in pre-trial detention. The investigation, which began in March 2025 and is still ongoing, has had its file kept confidential, with sources suggesting a second wave of arrests is possible.
This case highlights the extensive reach of the Moroccan hashish economy within Europe, where the proceeds are laundered through companies and real estate, reflecting the broader impact of Moroccan drug trafficking on the European side.
Key points
- The investigation revealed a large-scale criminal network suspected of managing extensive hashish trafficking operations from Morocco to Spain.
- The network was capable of moving thousands of kilograms of Moroccan hashish weekly.
- The case highlights the extensive reach of the Moroccan hashish economy within Europe.
