Lorraine Williamson
Police in Málaga have seized an arsenal including 36 long guns, 11 handguns and 11 hand grenades during an operation targeting a suspected weapons and drug-trafficking network. Officers also recovered more than 5,000 rounds of ammunition, seven silencers, eight bulletproof vests and two ballistic plates designed to withstand military ammunition.
Four people have been arrested during an investigation led by the Costa del Sol branch of the National Police’s Drugs and Organised Crime Unit, known as UDYCO. The inquiry remains under judicial secrecy and is being directed by the Civil and Investigating Section Number 4 of the Vélez-Málaga Court of First Instance, with the involvement of public prosecutors, according to the official police account.
Investigation began with weapons intercepted in May
The operation began in May when officers intercepted a vehicle carrying six automatic long guns, three hand grenades, magazines and 180 rounds of military ammunition.
The driver was arrested during the operation and has since been remanded in custody. Investigators believed the weapons were connected to a broader criminal structure rather than an isolated transport operation.
The apparent sophistication of the suspects and the type of weapons being moved led police to deploy the Special Operational Security Group, known as GOES, together with the National Police Air Unit.
Vehicle found carrying 120 kilograms of cocaine
Investigators continued tracing the suspected network after the first arrest. On Monday, UDYCO Costa del Sol officers intercepted another vehicle carrying 120 kilograms of cocaine.
Two more people were arrested following the cocaine seizure. A fourth suspected member of the organisation was detained later as the investigation expanded.
Police have not disclosed the identities or nationalities of the four suspects. The specific Málaga municipalities where the searches took place have also not been made public while the case remains under secrecy.
Weapons, drugs and protective equipment recovered
Searches carried out at several locations across Málaga province uncovered a further 30 assault rifles, 11 pistols, 11 hand grenades and seven silencers.
Officers also recovered eight bulletproof vests, two heavy-duty ballistic plates and more than 5,000 rounds of ammunition in a range of calibres. The equipment indicated a level of preparation extending well beyond ordinary street-level drug dealing.
The drug haul included 60 kilograms of hashish, 3,000 ecstasy tablets and 650 grams of tusi, a synthetic mixture often referred to as “pink cocaine”, in addition to the 120 kilograms of cocaine intercepted in the vehicle.
Suspected network linked arms and drug trafficking
Investigators believe the organisation’s main activities involved both the trafficking of firearms and the distribution of illegal drugs.
The combination of automatic weapons, explosives, silencers, body armour and large drug consignments has made the operation one of the most significant recent seizures linked to organised crime in Málaga province.
No details have yet been released about where the weapons originated, their intended destination or whether investigators believe they were connected to other violent incidents. Further arrests or searches remain possible while the inquiry continues.
Police footage available for media use
The Ministry of the Interior has made footage from the operation available specifically to news organisations. This includes images of the seized weapons, ammunition, protective equipment and drugs, offering a stronger and more accurate visual for the article than a generic crime photograph.
A still taken from the official footage can be credited to Policía Nacional. The footage should be used only in direct connection with this operation and should not be edited in a way that changes the meaning of the evidence shown.
Investigation remains under secrecy
The four detainees are suspected of involvement in a criminal organisation linked to weapons and drug trafficking. Their guilt has not been established, and the case remains at the investigative stage.
Judicial secrecy limits the information police can release about the organisation’s structure, its possible international links and the intended use of the weapons. Further details are likely to emerge only when the court lifts those restrictions or additional procedural steps are announced.