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Spain and Mexico authorities dismantle major drug and tobacco smuggling networks
Law enforcement agencies in Spain and Mexico have conducted several large-scale operations targeting organized crime networks involved in drug trafficking and contraband.
In Spain, coordinated efforts by the Guardia Civil, National Police, and Tax Agency dismantled a major tobacco smuggling ring operating across Andalusia, specifically in provinces including Málaga, Almería, Cádiz, Huelva, and Córdoba. The operation, known as Tábano-Fortune, led to multiple arrests and the seizure of thousands of cigarette packs and tobacco products. Additionally, police in Madrid and Granada dismantled drug networks, seizing significant quantities of hashish, marijuana, and cocaine, along with hundreds of thousands of euros in cash.
In Mexico, the Secretariat of the Navy (Semar) reported the seizure of 678 tons of illicit cigarettes between 2024 and 2026. These operations, conducted in coordination with customs and intelligence units, targeted international smuggling routes originating from Asia, including Vietnam, Singapore, and South Korea. Authorities estimate these seizures have caused an economic impact of approximately 2.375 billion pesos to organized crime groups, specifically the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).
Entities
Agencia Nacional de Aduanas de México · Agencia Tributaria · Andalusia · Civil Guard · Customs Surveillance · Guardia Civil · Jalisco New Generation Cartel · Marbella · National Police · Policía Nacional · Secretaría de Marina · Spanish National Police
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The group distributed tobacco to Málaga, Almería, Cádiz, Huelva, and Córdoba. www.elnoticierodigital.com · www.europasur.es · www.malagahoy.es
- [● 3 SOURCES] The organization's central warehouse was located on a farm in Écija, Seville. www.elnoticierodigital.com · www.europasur.es · www.malagahoy.es
- [● 3 SOURCES] The investigation was triggered by the sale of contraband tobacco in Marbella. www.elnoticierodigital.com · www.europasur.es · www.malagahoy.es
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The suspects are facing charges of alleged membership in a criminal organization, smuggling, and offenses against industrial property. www.elnoticierodigital.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Ten people were arrested and five others are under investigation. www.elnoticierodigital.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Spanish authorities conducted a joint operation named Tábano-Fortune to dismantle a tobacco smuggling ring. www.europasur.es · www.malagahoy.es
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Authorities seized 150,000 cigarette packs and 60 kilograms of tobacco shred. www.elnoticierodigital.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The suppliers were a family based in Santaella, Córdoba, with previous criminal records for similar acts. www.elnoticierodigital.com · www.europasur.es · www.malagahoy.es