Rabat / Almería, Spain – Spanish security investigations, lasting 13 months, have uncovered new details about a massive drug trafficking operation involving 15 tons of hashish seized in late March at the port of Almería in southern Spain. Spanish reports indicate that criminal networks benefited from the "complicity" of Moroccan police officers, who allegedly received bribes to allow the shipment to pass without inspection.
The security operation, which involved 250 Spanish police officers and employed drones and a helicopter, resulted in the dismantling of a network whose activities spanned the cities of Ceuta, the Strait of Gibraltar, Costa del Sol, Almería, Granada, and Madrid.
Potatoes from Nador Hiding 15 Tons of Hashish
According to Spanish reports, the drugs were carefully hidden inside a shipment of potatoes originating from the city of Nador in northeastern Morocco. Upon arrival at the port of Almería, Spanish customs and security services seized the shipment after becoming suspicious about the nature of the cargo.
Sources confirmed that the network used legitimate transport companies as a cover for its operations, in addition to employing specialized money laundering networks to conceal its illicit profits.
Explicit Accusations of Moroccan Police "Complicity"
What most stood out in the Spanish investigations was the extent of the network's reliance on precise "inside information" regarding the movements of Moroccan security forces and the best timing to carry out trafficking operations. According to the same sources, members of the Moroccan police received bribes to guarantee the passage of these shipments without any significant inspection on Moroccan soil.
The reports did not name specific individuals or ranks, but they asserted that this "complicity" was a decisive factor in the network's success over an extended period, before communications and financial transfers between its members were monitored.
Dismantling Operation Lasted 13 Months
The investigations revealed that the operation that brought down the network in late March came after 13 months of security work, surveillance, and wiretapping. Advanced equipment was used, including drones and a helicopter, coordinated among several Spanish security units.
Spanish security sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the network was "highly organized" and enjoyed "significant logistical and field protection," making it one of the most dangerous networks operating in the Strait of Gibraltar in recent years.
Expected Moroccan Response
As of the time of this report, no official statement has been issued by Morocco's General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) or the competent public prosecutor's office regarding these allegations, which have been circulated by multiple Spanish media outlets. However, observers expect Moroccan authorities to issue a clarification, especially since the accusations involve a sensitive security breach in an area that Rabat considers a red line in the fight against smuggling and organized crime.
On other occasions, Rabat has affirmed its intensive security cooperation with Madrid to combat international drug trafficking and has stressed that it does not allow any facilitation for the passage of these narcotics, emphasizing its uncompromising fight against "trafficking mafias."
Background: Port of Nador as a Hotspot
The Mediterranean port of Nador is considered a vital hub for trade between Morocco and Europe, but it is also a flashpoint in the fight against smuggling. Previous reports indicate that trafficking gangs deliberately hide drugs within food and agricultural shipments, exploiting the large volume of Moroccan exports to European markets, particularly fruits and vegetables.
Published: April 5, 2026
Sources: Spanish media reports and security investigations (for professional editorial use)