Lorraine Williamson
The Guardia Civil has dismantled a major criminal network accused of distributing large quantities of hashish and cocaine across Spain. As part of Operation Vilda, officers arrested 31 people and seized nearly 600 kilograms of hashish and 1.5 kilograms of cocaine, bringing an end to one of the most extensive national drug distribution networks uncovered this year.
Investigations began early in the year when several drug-related operations led Guardia Civil agents to suspect the existence of a large-scale trafficking group. The organisation, based between Madrid and Toledo, is believed to have coordinated a complex distribution chain reaching across the Basque Country, La Rioja, Castilla y León, and Asturias.
At the heart of the operation was a network of vehicles specially modified to conceal drugs. Some were fitted with highly sophisticated double-bottom compartments, opened using combinations of remote controls and magnetic mechanisms. Others, described as “launch vehicles”, travelled ahead to detect potential police checkpoints along transport routes.
Raids across multiple regions
After months of surveillance and intelligence gathering, Guardia Civil agents carried out 12 coordinated raids across several provinces, including Palencia, Asturias, Madrid, Toledo, Álava, and La Rioja. The searches resulted in the seizure of €70,000 in cash, 12 vehicles, and detailed accounting records believed to contain information about quantities sold, prices, and delivery routes.
The operation also uncovered stash houses in the Toledo towns of Yuncos and Illescas, where drugs were stored before distribution across Spain. These properties served as logistical hubs, managed by trusted members of the group who ensured the flow of narcotics without direct contact between distributors — a deliberate strategy to minimise exposure and traceability.
Structure built on secrecy
According to investigators, the organisation operated with a clear internal hierarchy and separation of duties. Leaders oversaw strategy and logistics, while local distributors handled sales in their respective provinces. Drivers and couriers managed transport, and “caretakers” maintained the drug stockpiles. This compartmentalised structure ensured that few members were aware of the network’s full scale, making infiltration difficult.
Despite their elaborate methods, the group’s activities came to light through patient and coordinated investigative work by the Guardia Civil’s specialised anti-drug units.
National impact of Operation Vilda
Operation Vilda highlights the continuing challenge of organised drug trafficking in Spain, particularly in regions linked to major transport routes. Spain’s geographical position — acting as a gateway between Africa and Europe — has long made it a strategic point for smuggling operations, particularly for hashish from Morocco.
With 31 arrests, dozens of searches, and the recovery of hundreds of kilograms of illegal substances, the Guardia Civil considers the network fully dismantled. Investigations are now focused on tracing the group’s financial assets and international connections.
A decisive blow against organised crime
The success of Operation Vilda marks a significant step in Spain’s ongoing fight against narcotics distribution. While the case underscores the growing sophistication of smuggling operations, it also reflects the increasing precision of Spanish law enforcement in dismantling them — from urban centres like Madrid to rural provinces across the north of the country.
As Guardia Civil sources emphasise, this investigation not only disrupts a major supply chain but also sends a clear warning to other groups attempting to exploit Spain’s transport corridors for criminal gain.