Coordenada 25 | España, de país de paso a productor clave de droga: "Los narcos invierten muchísimo en I+D"

·31 min·3 clips

Catalonia has become Europe's marijuana garden, with police dismantling over 500,000 plants each year.

The episode begins by framing drug trafficking as a global problem with significant local impacts in Spain. Comisario Antonio Martínez Duarte, head of the National Police's Drug and Organized Crime Unit, joins to provide analysis. He explains that Spain has shifted from being solely a transit country to also producing marijuana, particularly in Catalonia. Journalist Andrea Villoria reports that Catalonia has become Europe's marijuana production center in under a decade, with police dismantling over 500,000 plants yearly. The discussion highlights how organized crime spreads into society, creating a 'narcosociety' where people in real estate, utilities, and even law enforcement become involved. Over 2,000 people are arrested annually in Catalonia for marijuana trafficking, with 52% having no prior record. The episode then moves to the Campo de Gibraltar, where Rubén García describes it as a strategic entry point for hashish from Morocco and cocaine from South America. A special security plan since 2018 has led to 37,000 operations and 2,200 tons of drugs seized. However, traffickers have adapted by moving to nearby areas like Chiclana and Chipiona. The comisario notes that traffickers now use war weapons, often sourced from Marseille, primarily for protection against rival groups rather than police. He mentions the 'Mocro Mafia' from the Netherlands as particularly violent, bringing their conflicts to Spain's Costa del Sol. The episode covers investigative methods, with the comisario describing complex, multi-region operations and his concern for officer safety. Corruption within police is addressed, referencing the case of Óscar Sánchez Gil, who was found with over 20 million euros. In Galicia, Ricardo Rodríguez discusses narco-submarines, with five intercepted so far, including one in 2019 carrying 3,000 kilos of cocaine. Fernando Alonso of the Galician Foundation Against Drug Trafficking warns that resources are insufficient against this 'siege.' The comisario explains that traffickers continuously innovate in transport and concealment, investing heavily in engineering. They also use advanced technology like encrypted communication, drones, and signal jammers to monitor police. The episode touches on fentanyl, which has not yet appeared in Spain but is closely monitored. The comisario concludes that while ending drug trafficking is impossible, his goal is dismantling organizations and arresting 'invisible traffickers' who blend into society.

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