Spanish police report that they have broken up one of the biggest drug trafficking operations in Europe, one that has been operating in Europe for forty or more years. How were they caught? Authorities tagged a suspicious shipment of Costa Rican pineapples, and discovered fruit loaded with cylinders coated with yellow-colored wax, made to look like pineapples. Eleven people were arrested in Malaga, Spain, and one ton of cocaine was seized, along with vast sums of cash, jewelry, guns and vehicles. Both the drugs and pineapples allegedly originated in Costa Rica.

Authorities had been monitoring the activities of this gang of drug smugglers for one year, and finally broke up the family business headquartered in southeastern Costa del Sol. The group leader is a 72- year old, but the group included many other family members of varying ages. They have reportedly been smuggling cocaine and other drugs, as well as laundered money, using a real estate and financial institution as a front.
The drug smugglers were able to operate undetected for many years because they were using highly sophisticated security measures to escape detection and shield their movements, including state-of-the-art electronic devices and coded messages. Much of the drug activity was conducted via the gang’s shipping company.

Authorities seized one ton of cocaine, 180,000 euros in cash, 200,000 euros in jewelry, 15 vehicles, two guns, and two million euros in bank accounts. More than two million euros belonging to the gang have been frozen in Spanish banks, and 57 buildings belonging to them have been repossessed.

Thousands of Costa Rican pineapples were sacrificed in this drug bust, with authorities discovering the cocaine hidden within them, as well as 960 kilograms of cocaine hydrochloride secreted in the wax covered cylinders. Cocaine hydrochloride is used often in surgical procedures, coating the throat, nose or mouth prior to surgery to alleviate pain or discomfort. It is also used recreationally.