The Civil Guard has arrested 16 people in Malaga and Granada who were buying weapons from legal armories to resell them at triple the price to drug trafficking organizations. The criminal group acquired the weapons through front men with valid licenses and later introduced them into the black market. This is the second operation of this kind in the province of Malaga in less than a month and confirms the increasing presence of firearms among drug traffickers as reported by police investigators and prosecutors in recent years. The arrests were made following suspicious transactions in the purchase of new weapons, specifically tactical rifles, which led the investigators to launch Operation Brutale to uncover weapons trafficking.
The operation revealed an organization that was purchasing weapons legally through front men with valid licenses and then selling them illegally to drug trafficking groups at inflated prices. The Civil Guard in Malaga and Granada coordinated a joint operation to arrest the 16 individuals involved in this illicit trade with support from specialized units. During the raids on their homes in both Malaga and Granada, 14 tactical rifles were discovered, some hidden in double walls or ceilings. Additionally, three of the properties were being used for marijuana plantations, with the weapons being used to defend and secure the drugs from potential threats or theft by other criminal groups.
The possession of illicit weapons in drug custody locations is a major concern, as highlighted in the latest report from the Andalusian Prosecutor’s Office, which also noted the increasing firepower being used. The Ministry of the Interior has decided to enhance the security of agents as they are increasingly facing “assaults with war weapons.” Armed conflicts are common in operations related to drug trafficking, and in the Costa del Sol region, there have been up to eight shootings in the past two months. In response to this escalating violence, local authorities are convening to address the situation and prioritize security measures. Previous operations have targeted individuals selling handguns and war weapons to criminal groups via encrypted messaging apps, resulting in arrests in Málaga and Valencia.
Recent years have seen significant crackdowns on illegal arms trafficking organizations, such as the arrest of two brothers with a wide range of pistols, revolvers, and submachine guns in 2022. Another operation uncovered an enormous arsenal of 160 weapons, including 22 AK-47 assault rifles, in an industrial warehouse near the capital of Malaga. These cases underscore the ongoing challenges posed by the illegal arms trade, particularly in the context of drug trafficking and organized crime in the region. The authorities are vigilant in their efforts to combat the proliferation of firearms and the associated violence, which necessitates continued coordination and enforcement actions to ensure public safety.
