Lorraine Williamson
An illegal underground shooting range used by arms traffickers has been uncovered in Granada. This is the first time Spanish authorities have dismantled such a facility linked to organised crime.
The shooting gallery, located beneath a residential property, formed part of a wider criminal operation involving weapons trafficking, drug offences, and organised crime.
The investigation, a joint effort by the Policia Nacional and the Guardia Civil, led to 11 raids across Granada, Loja, and Moraleda de Zafayona. According to the Policia Nacional, three people have been arrested on charges including illegal possession of firearms, possession of weapons of war, drug trafficking, and membership in a criminal organisation.
Rudimentary construction concealed criminal operation
The clandestine range was accessed by descending three levels underground. Built manually using basic tools, the tunnel system avoided detection by neighbours and authorities. Investigators found bullets embedded in earthen walls and other signs of frequent use. Moreover, the depth and location of the range helped muffle the sound of gunfire.
The facility was used to test and showcase weapons before they were sold to other criminal groups. Furthermore, buyers were sometimes invited to view the tests in person. In other cases, members of the network recorded videos of weapons being fired to send to interested clients via encrypted messaging apps.
Sophisticated trafficking network and seized arsenal
Authorities confiscated a significant cache of weapons and materials. Among the items seized were three assault rifles, six handguns, a submachine gun, a semi-automatic shotgun, a bulletproof vest, a pistol-to-submachine gun conversion kit, simulated pistols, a simulated grenade, a compressed air carbine, and multiple high-capacity magazines and ammunition.
In addition, officers found over €60,000 in cash and dismantled two indoor marijuana plantations. Most of the weapons were hidden underground on a plot in the Almanjáyar industrial estate. This area was already under investigation due to suspected firearms testing.
Arms sold via secure messaging apps
The criminal organisation offered a wide range of weapons—including war-grade rifles and tactical gear—through secure messaging applications. Buyers, mostly involved in drug trafficking, paid between €6,000 and €7,000 for pistols and up to €11,000 for assault rifles. The weapons were intended for defending drug shipments or use in clashes with rival gangs.
Advanced evasion techniques
Throughout the investigation, officers encountered sophisticated counter-surveillance tactics. The group used technical and personal methods to avoid police monitoring, making the operation especially complex.
The final phase of the investigation confirmed that the organisation was heavily involved in the acquisition, sale, and distribution of military-grade weapons to other criminal groups in Andalucia. With these arrests, authorities have removed a stockpile of dangerous weapons that could have been used in violent crimes.
The operation confirms the increasing professionalism of criminal networks in Spain and the growing challenge for law enforcement in dismantling them.
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