major haul Spanish police seize 827,000 ecstasy tabs in country's biggest ever 'synthetic' drug bust

Eleven gang members, including the network’s Dutch leader, have been arrested in the biggest 'synthetic' drug raid in Spanish history.

Spanish Police announced that the case involved a “criminal organization with the greatest reach in the production and trafficking of synthetic drugs in the history of drug trafficking in Spain.”

It was also one of the largest hauls of ecstasy in Europe, worth tens of millions of euro.

After an operation lasting a year, police seized 827,000 Ecstasy pills, 76 kg of amphetamine, 39.5 kg of crystal meth, 310 kg of hashish, 89 kg of marihuana, hashish, 2,000 doses of LSD and 1.65kg of cocaine.

The gang smuggled drugs in the false compartments of lorries carrying classic cars from Spain to Britain.

To finance its operation, the organisation transported marijuana and hashish in the lorries to Britain and Holland where the drugs were sold.

On the return journey, the trucks would bring the ingredients to make Ecstasy, LSD and amphetamines at the gang's factory in Barcelona.

Spanish police said the gang's 'cooks' would make the drugs which were later sold across Spain.

“The drugs were worth tens of millions of euros but it is hard to put a figure on it,” said a police source.

The members of the gang used computers and mobile phones which could hide messages and panic buttons in case they were detected by police.

Two firearms, two grenade launchers, a machete, computers, encrypted telephones, five cars, three speed boats were also seized during the raids.

Police blocked 23 bank accounts linked to the gang.

The gang, whose members were from Holland, Spain, Romania, Colombia and Italy, appeared before a court accused of drug trafficking, belonging to a criminal organisation and illegal possession of arms. Eight were remanded in custody.

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