Spanish police, in collaboration with An Garda Síochána and police in the UK, have dismantled a criminal gang suspected of smuggling cannabis hidden inside sacks of animal feed sent to Ireland.
The investigation began in January 2025 after authorities identified a group involving Irish, British and Spanish nationals using international freight companies to ship pallets of animal feed with concealed cannabis buds to Ireland, Spain's National Police said in a statement.
Spanish police released footage from the operation.
The statement said 12 searches were carried out in Madrid, Malaga and Seville. Nearly €100,000 in cash was seized, along with 630 marijuana plants, a firearm and three detonators, high-end vehicles, luxury watches, electronic devices and items relating to criminal activity.
At the same time as the searches, property and financial assets worth more than €2 million were blocked.
🚩Desarticulado un grupo criminal que enviaba #marihuana a #Irlanda🇮🇪 oculta en sacos de pienso para animales
— Policía Nacional (@policia) August 7, 2025
👮♂️14 detenidos (13 en 🇪🇸 y 1 en 🇮🇪) y 12 registros en #Madrid, #Málaga y #Sevilla
🚔Intervenidos 100.000€ en metálico, 630 plantas de marihuana y un arma de fuego… pic.twitter.com/AscWx5pUVQ
Officials estimate the group trafficked more than three tonnes of marijuana since 2019, maintaining steady monthly shipments.
Several shipments were intercepted in Spain and Ireland during the probe, with about 300 kilos of marijuana seized.
Gardaí have confirmed that they arrested a man as part of an investigation conducted with the Spanish Police.
In a statement, gardaí said the man was arrested in May. He has since been charged and appeared before the courts.
Thirteen people in Spain were also arrested.
The operation was carried out with support from gardaí and Britain's national crime agency.
Spain is a major gateway for drug trafficking into Europe due to its proximity to Morocco - a leading cannabis producer - and its historical ties to Latin America.
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