• There are two individuals arrested, accused of drug trafficking and money laundering, who have already been placed in preventive detention by court order.

• The operation carried out attacks the highest level of drug trafficking known so far in Burgos

• Investigators have discovered and neutralized a clandestine laboratory, where the main suspect manipulated and cut significant quantities of cocaine

January 27, 2025.- Customs Surveillance of the Tax Agency and the National Police of Burgos, in a joint operation, have dealt one of the biggest blows against drug trafficking in recent years in Burgos.

In addition to the significant quantities of cocaine and hashish seized, a clandestine laboratory was found, used by the main suspect and recipient of the prohibited substances, which was perfectly prepared and had all the necessary tools for the manipulation, 'cutting' and multiplication of significant quantities of cocaine.

In addition, the successful police intervention has resulted in the seizure of 125,000 euros in cash, perfectly distributed in five bundles of banknotes, which were in the possession of one of the detainees, precisely the 'courier' of the cocaine, and who was seized in the Customs Surveillance and National Police operation that managed to complete the 'Cane bianco' operation.

Following the arrests, officers have carried out three police searches with judicial authorisation, in a flat and two storage rooms, locating two firearms (one of them simulated), which are currently being analysed by the police's forensic science experts.

The origin of the operation

Operation 'Cane bianco' began in early summer 2024, when Customs Surveillance officials from the Tax Agency in coordination with agents from the National Police of Burgos, were on the trail of a resident of Burgos, with information that he could be involved in illicit activities related to drug trafficking.

After months of joint, coordinated police investigations under the control of the Fourth Court of Instruction in Burgos, at the beginning of the year the movements of an individual were monitored and controlled, whose routines and security measures seriously hampered the obtaining of criminal evidence of his involvement in drug trafficking.

Police operation

On January 17, the agents in charge of the ongoing investigation deployed an operation in the vicinity of the suspect's home, a house located in the western district of the capital. After detecting a meeting with an unknown man, and given the well-founded suspicions that an exchange of drugs for money was taking place between the two, the alleged 'courier' of the substance was intercepted and searched, finding in his possession five bundles of banknotes with a total value of 125,000 euros, proceeding to his immediate arrest for an alleged crime of drug trafficking.

Acting immediately and under judicial authorization, the home of the recipient of the drug was entered and searched, finding inside five perfectly sealed packages of cocaine, which weighed more than 5.6 kilos. The suspect, who was at home, was arrested and is being investigated for drug trafficking and money laundering.

Once both the sender and the recipient of the drugs were secured, not only the home of the Burgos resident was searched, but also the storage room attached to the house, as well as a second storage room rented by the detainee.

In the first of them, Customs Surveillance and National Police investigators found 33 kilos of hashish, perfectly packaged and sealed, which gives an idea of the magnitude and degree of criminal involvement of this subject.

Clandestine Laboratory

In the second of the searched storage rooms, in addition to quantities of cocaine wrapped in bags whose total weight adds up to nearly one more kilo of drugs, items were found in the confiscated items that constitute a laboratory equipped with the necessary - and sufficient - tools, instruments and substances to professionally prepare, 'cut' and distribute the drug.

Inside, significant quantities of cutting substances have been found - acetone, lidocaine, phenacetin, and others pending analysis -, a vacuum packer, a hydraulic press to compact the substances, molds of different sizes and precision scales, among other effects.

The investigators' hypothesis concludes that the detainee, once he received the cocaine of high purity, dedicated himself to 'cutting' it with the appropriate substances, to later repackage and sell it, doubling his profits. In this way, he was able to deceive other traffickers within the distribution chain, with the added final impact in terms of greater risk to the health of end consumers.

Possession of firearms and other means of defense and attack

Although this is not the first time that Customs Surveillance and the National Police have discovered that the degree of professionalization of criminal activities leads criminals to provide themselves with and be ready to use firearms as a measure of reinforcement and security in their conduct and criminal purposes, the truth is that the discovery of two pistols (one real and one simulated), or an electric immobilizer in perfect working order, in the different searches carried out in the possession of the detainee, demonstrates his high status and potential dangerousness.

As a summary and approximate, the quantities of narcotic substances seized, as well as cash, vehicles, weapons, etc., are as follows:

• 6.6 kilos of cocaine

• 33 kilos of hashish

• 8 kilos of 'cutting' substances

• 128,000 euros in cash

• Two guns, one real and one simulated

• A taser-type electric immobilizer

• 4 vehicles, one of them equipped with a 'caleta' or receptacle to hide the drugs

• 5 mobile phones