An investigation that began with a raid by the Greek Organized Crime Directorate on a boat in Soufli, near the Evros River, last October uncovered a vast criminal network stretching to Spain and Bulgaria. Greek police seized 147 assassination weapons and numerous magazines from the boat and determined that the weapons were to be taken to Spain via Bulgaria.
Through technical and physical surveillance, Spanish police determined that the network used a special production technique called 'Frankenstein guns,' which combines old and new parts to make them difficult to trace. In April, in an operation dubbed 'Thrace,' 18 Turkish citizens in Spain and 3 in Bulgaria, alleged to be members of the Daltonlar Group, were taken into custody. The raids seized 587 kilograms of cannabis and 76 kilograms of pills worth 4.4 million euros, along with numerous weapons.
The investigation revealed that the organization received cannabis in exchange for weapons and had established infrastructure to export the drugs to Turkey and Greece by land and sea. Police also determined that members still at large were continuing the arms trade.
Last week, authorities received information that the network was planning to supply weapons to Los Trinitarios, one of the world's most notorious gangs, known for the scars they leave on their victims. In response, the Catalan Police, the Crime Investigation Unit, and the National Police launched an operation the previous day.
Teams determined that most of the shipment would be transported by vehicle and stopped the vehicle in Hospitalet de Llobregat. A search of the trunk uncovered nearly 50 handguns, hunting rifles, a rocket launcher, and numerous rounds of ammunition. The two people in the vehicle were taken into custody.
Subsequently, 130 police officers carried out simultaneous raids at seven locations in and around Barcelona. Searches of the homes uncovered numerous weapons, stun guns, hand grenades, bulletproof vests, thousands of rounds of ammunition, and 12,000 euros in cash. Nine suspects, including Turkish nationals, were arrested and sent to prison on charges of forming a criminal organization, possessing firearms, and arms trafficking.
