Italian authorities announced the dismantling of an international criminal network involved in trafficking hashish from Morocco to Europe, following a coordinated operation that led to the arrest of 20 individuals in Italy and Spain.
According to the Italian financial police, the operation was conducted under the supervision of the Milan public prosecutor’s office, with support from the national anti-mafia and counter-terrorism directorate and Eurojust, and targeted the cities of Milan, Barcelona, and Marbella after investigations launched in 2024.
Investigations revealed two criminal groups composed of individuals of Maghrebi and Romanian origin, suspected of coordinating the import of large quantities of hashish from Morocco and distributing them across Italy and in Barcelona.
The network reportedly used logistical methods such as forged documents, encrypted phones, and vehicles with foreign license plates registered under false identities to evade detection.
Over a four-month period, more than 350 kilograms of hashish were allegedly transported into Italy, with 125 kilograms seized between August and September 2024, alongside additional seizures of 86 kilograms in a vehicle and 38 kilograms arriving from Spain.
In Spain, authorities seized a further 51 kilograms of drugs, two firearms, and approximately 68,000 euros, as well as high-value assets including a Ferrari and a BMW.
The arrests were distributed between eight individuals in Italy and twelve in Spain, as part of ongoing European security cooperation to combat international drug trafficking.