Lorraine Williamson
Police have uncovered a network of alleged drug tunnels beneath Las Albarizas in Marbella, in an operation that led to 11 arrests and the dismantling of several suspected drug sale points.
The Policía Nacional operation focused on properties in the Marbella neighbourhood, where investigators say homes were being used for the sale and distribution of drugs. Officers also found underground passages allegedly used to move between properties, hide substances and avoid police action. Cadena SER reported that five homes in the same block were searched during the operation.
At a glance
- Police arrested 11 people in Marbella’s Las Albarizas neighbourhood.
- Officers dismantled several alleged drug sale points linked to homes in the area.
- Underground tunnels were reportedly used to hide drugs, move between properties and evade police.
- Seized items included hashish, marijuana, tussi, cocaine and more than €2,400 in cash.
A police operation carried out in two phases
The case unfolded in two stages because of the difficulty of accessing some of the properties and the alleged use of underground routes. According to Canal Sur, three people were arrested in an earlier phase of the investigation. A further eight arrests followed in the second phase.
The operation targeted suspected drug sale points in Las Albarizas, a densely populated neighbourhood close to Marbella town centre. Police sources cited by Spanish media said the tunnels connected homes allegedly used in the distribution network.
Investigators believe the passages helped those involved avoid officers during raids. They were also allegedly used to store drugs and other items linked to the suspected activity.
Drugs and cash seized during searches
During the searches, officers seized 133 grams of hashish, 111 grams of marijuana, 3.08 grams of tussi, and 5.76 grams of cocaine. Police also recovered more than €2,400 in cash, according to reports from Marbella24Horas and Malaga Hoy.
The investigation also pointed to a wider street-level sales structure. Local reports say the alleged group used intermediaries and lookout points to make police surveillance more difficult.
Some suspects allegedly changed their appearance during the day to avoid being identified. Police also believe the group used occupied properties as part of its network.
Las Albarizas and Marbella’s wider crime challenge
The discovery of underground passages adds a striking detail to a long-running policing challenge on the Costa del Sol. Marbella has often been associated with luxury tourism, high-end real estate and international visitors. Yet parts of the municipality also face persistent problems linked to drug dealing, illegal occupation and organised crime.
Las Albarizas has appeared in previous police operations connected to drug sales. The latest case suggests officers are now dealing not only with open street-level distribution, but also more hidden infrastructure designed to frustrate investigations.
That contrast is part of Marbella’s modern reality. The town remains one of Spain’s most recognisable destinations, but its location, wealth and international links also make it attractive to criminal networks.
Police continue pressure on local drug sale points
Spanish police have increased operations against drug trafficking across Malaga province in recent years. These actions range from major international investigations to neighbourhood-level interventions targeting local sale points.
The Las Albarizas operation appears to fall into the second category. It does not involve the large quantities often seen in port or motorway seizures. However, police say it was aimed at dismantling a local distribution system affecting daily life in the neighbourhood.
For residents, that distinction matters. Small-scale sale points can still create insecurity, noise, intimidation and tension in residential streets.
A visible blow, but not the end of the problem
The Marbella drug tunnels case is likely to attract attention because of its unusual underground element. But the wider issue is more familiar: how police and local authorities deal with embedded drug sale networks in urban neighbourhoods.
The 11 arrests and seizures mark a significant intervention in Las Albarizas. The next question is whether the operation leads to lasting change in the area, or whether new groups try to fill the space left behind.
For now, police say several alleged sale points have been dismantled. The tunnels, however, show how far some networks may go to protect their activity.