Catalan Police’s largest-ever operation ends with 33 drug dealers arrested

Barcelona (ACN).- The extensive Catalan Police operation against drug trafficking in Barcelona’s Zona Franca quarter and in Sant Adrià de Besós’ (North of Barcelona) La Mina neighbourhood resulted in 33 arrests and 29 homes searched. The operation began at 4 a.m. and finished around 11 a.m., but further arrests could still be announced in the following days. Catalan Minister for Home Affairs, Ramon Espadaler, explained from Mollet del Vallès (a town in the Northern Greater Barcelona) that this was the largest operation conducted ​​by the Catalan Police in terms of officers deployed. 300 police officers from 7 different police areas have participated in today’s raid. The investigation leading to this operation had begun in December 2012.

The Minister for Home Affairs, Ramon Espadaler, explained that the case will be rapidly dealt with. He pointed out that the Catalan Police is now at the disposal of the Investigation Judge of Badalona’s Court number 3 (North of Barcelona), who is to proceed with the following stages. The aim of this police operation was to dismantle a drug trafficking business run by a Roma family clan in La Mina Neighbourhood, in Sant Adrià del Besós.

300 police officers deployed from 7 different areas

Espadaler explained that the investigation had started in December 2012 and had culminated in this morning’s raid, with the arrest of 33 suspected drug traffickers. He also stated “there might be” other arrests in the following days. “It is not the kind of operation that begins and ends in a single day”, he stressed.

In the same respect, he insisted this was the largest ever police operation against drug trafficking in terms of officers deployed to have been carried out by the Catalan Police Force. The total number of police officers on the case reached 300, assigned from 7 different police areas.  

A combined operation by several Catalan Police’s areas

The Special Forces of the Catalan Police (GEI, Grup Especial d' Intervenció) were assigned the most dangerous cases, where it was suspected that criminals were most likely to be armed with guns. The Anti-Riot Brigade (Brimo, Brigada Mòbil) and the Operational Resources North Metropolitan Regional Area ( ARRO, Àrea Regional de Recursos Operatius) - from one of the 9 police regions of Catalonia – were in charge of less dangerous interventions than the GEI’s.

The Catalan Police Dog Unit along with officers from the Division of Criminal Investigation (DIC, Divisió d'Investigació Criminal) also raided the suspect’s homes once the police had taken control of them, looking for cocaine, heroin and hashish. Outside, the policemen in charge of public safety helped taking in the arrested men while regulating the possible traffic alterations caused by the operation. Finally, they were all assisted by a helicopter, from the Air Unit.Hide Keyboard