The laboratory was located in the Pontevedra region of Galicia (Spain) and had the capacity to produce 200 kilos of cocaine per day
The raw material for the production of narcotics reached Europe via the Port of Leixões, in Matosinhos. Joint operation by Spanish National Police, PJ and Colombian National Police dismantled criminal group - 18 people were arrested and remanded in custody
A joint operation by the Spanish National Police, the Judicial Police (PJ) and the Colombian National Police allowed the dismantling of the largest clandestine cocaine production laboratory ever detected in Europe, which operated in the region of Pontevedra, Galicia (Spain), just an hour from the Portuguese border, the PJ announced in a statement this morning. The cocaine paste and other elements used to produce the drug - which originated in Colombia (the producer country) - reached Europe via the port of Leixões, in Matosinhos.
Following this seizure, the so-called Operation Mourente was unleashed, with a number of searches and seizures being carried out in various regions of mainland and island Spain, involving the participation of a large number of operatives, including members of the PJ. As part of this operation, the statement said, "the authorities detected, in full operation, what, to date, is considered to be the largest laboratory for processing base paste into cocaine ever found in Europe".
"In addition, it was possible to capture all the narcotics that had been transported in the shredding machine, as around 1,300 kilos of coca paste and 151 kilos of cocaine hydrochloride were seized, as well as precursors, several vehicles and four tonnes of chemical products, highly damaging to the environment. The authorities also seized several properties and high-value financial products," the statement said.
Eighteen people were arrested - of Spanish, Colombian and Mexican nationality - who were remanded in custody.
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