Murcia, June 12, 2025 – In a major crackdown on organized crime, the Spanish Civil Guard has dismantled a criminal network that was supplying firearms to drug trafficking organizations. The group, based primarily in Murcia with operations extending into Alicante and Cádiz, is accused of diverting legal firearms into the black market to arm drug gangs protecting marijuana warehouses and plantations.
A total of 18 individuals have been arrested, with six more under investigation, following 16 coordinated raids across the three provinces. Authorities seized numerous firearms, including assault rifles and tactical weapons.
The investigation revealed that individuals with legal firearm licenses were purchasing tactical weapons and handing them over to the organization. To cover their tracks, these so-called frontmen falsely reported the firearms as lost or stolen, allowing the weapons—including rifles, civilian versions of military assault rifles, and law enforcement shotguns—to enter the illegal arms market.
The criminal network was uncovered after one of these frontmen was arrested. Investigators then traced the operation back to its hub in Alguazas (Murcia), identifying its key leaders and their methods. Many of the group’s members had prior criminal records for drug and arms trafficking, and some were also linked to violent crimes, including attempted murder.
Links to Other Criminal Networks
During the investigation, authorities uncovered connections between the Murcia-based group and another criminal cell operating in Granada, which was also involved in arms trafficking. In Granada, police found a hidden weapons cache containing a dozen firearms, including military-grade weapons, buried in a vacant lot. The site even had an underground shooting range where the gang tested the weapons.
The two organizations supplied each other with weapons to meet demand from their narcotrafficking clients. Among the arsenal they distributed were AK-47 assault rifles, shotguns, tactical rifles, and high-end handguns.
Protecting Drug Operations
Beyond arms trafficking, the Murcia-based group was also heavily involved in the cultivation and wholesale distribution of indoor-grown marijuana. Many of the weapons they trafficked were used to guard plantations from rival groups attempting to steal crops—commonly known as “vuelcos” in criminal slang.
The gang managed several indoor grow operations equipped with surveillance systems, including Wi-Fi-connected cameras, which allowed leaders to monitor workers and detect possible police presence or hostile incursions.
The Civil Guard successfully dismantled five indoor marijuana plantations, some of which were guarded with illegal firearms.
Extortion and Money Laundering
The organization also ran an extortion racket targeting individuals who had borrowed money at exorbitant interest rates. Victims were subjected to threats and coercion to repay their debts, either in cash or by transferring assets—such as vehicles or property—into the gang’s control, often using third parties to mask ownership.
Investigators discovered that the gang was using its criminal proceeds to purchase luxury vehicles and properties, hiding ownership through shell companies and front individuals. In one of the raids, officers seized over €170,000 in cash.
Raids and Seizures
The sweeping operation resulted in the seizure of:
- 11 firearms, including an assault rifle and a submachine gun
- 897 rounds of ammunition, including 249 military-grade cartridges
- A silencer and multiple ammunition magazines
- €173,500 in cash
- 1,733 marijuana plants and 4.1 kilograms of processed marijuana
- 400 grams of cocaine
- Five luxury cars and a stolen vehicle
- Technical equipment for indoor cultivation, including 168 LED lamps, 25 air-conditioning units, 46 fans, and 11 industrial extractors
The case is currently being overseen by Court of First Instance and Instruction No. 3 in Molina de Segura (Murcia). The investigation continues as authorities work to dismantle any remaining elements of the network.
