The operation started when 14 containers arrived at the port of Barcelona from Guatemala on March 12. Unlike the usual shipments, this cargo drew significant attention from authorities. As trucks began the slow process of unloading the goods, the delay confirmed suspicions among vigilant eyes.

Customs Surveillance Service agents suspected that the prolonged unloading was due to something hidden within. Their instincts were correct: almost 1,200 kilos of cocaine were found concealed within the 335 tons of cardboard. This marked the largest seizure since the 13,000 kilos confiscated in Algeciras last October.

The importing company claimed to specialize in sourcing materials from Mexico and Guatemala, raising initial flags for investigators. “Spain typically doesn’t import waste; it’s usually managed domestically or sent to Asia or Africa,” clarified investigation sources, marking the first error.

Another mistake by the smugglers was their impatience. Front companies usually maintain a legal facade, such as having a website, contact information, and conducting legitimate operations before transporting drugs. This company, however, had few prior recycling transactions and minimal shipments.

The volume of operations was suspiciously large, with imports involving 14 or 15 containers being rare, particularly for this type of goods, explained sources close to the case.

Agents from the Tarragona Operational Unit of Customs Surveillance patiently observed as the cardboard bales were loaded onto trucks. They noticed the slow pace of the operation and halted the trucks for inspection as they left the port. Their planned destination was a warehouse in Tarragona, previously monitored by the agents.

Officials meticulously dismantled a 670-kilo cardboard bale, layer by layer, until unearthing cocaine concealed as tablets. “The cocaine was hidden with precision, only 18 tablets in each bale, dispersed in three packets of six tablets each,” an investigator noted.

Inspectors identified the reference number and searched the warehouse for matching packages. The search was challenging due to 500 unordered items. A package with the same numbering was found, containing drugs. A clue emerged: “We noticed a distinct metal strip number on one item that led to further discoveries,” an agent elaborated. The cocaine tally reached 200 kilos, yet more remained to be found.

Investigators traced the remaining referenced bales to a warehouse in Camarma de Esteruelas, a Madrid village of 8,000 residents. To identify all involved parties, judicial authorization was obtained to track the trucks and discover their recipients.

Following the vehicles across various provinces, investigators kept them in sight. Upon arrival at the industrial site, they awaited the recipients, who never showed up. Inspecting the trucks revealed more drugs than anticipated, nearly an additional ton of tablets. “This marks the largest cocaine seizure in this region in the past 20 years,” emphasized Customs Surveillance in a public statement.