The joint National Police-Guardia Civil operation against a Dominican drugs' gang that was reported last week has been brought to a conclusion. The operation, code-named Oops (and not Opps, as had been said last week), has in all led to 25 arrests - 17 men and eight women - who have been charged with crimes against public health, money laundering and membership of a criminal organisation.
During the operation, which included raids in different parts of the island - Palma, Can Picafort, Illetes - more than one hundred officers raided 21 properties and seized 4,000 grams of cocaine, over 1,800 grams of marijuana, 56,000 euros cash and a simulated revolver. In addition, a laboratory, kitted out with equipment to adulterate cocaine as well as balances, presses and other devices, was dismantled.
The gang members are said to have a record of drug trafficking, and the organisation of the gang was such that it had multiple distribution points across the island, but above all in Palma. It had three branches: those for procurement, operations and support logistics. The supply relied on the import of drugs, especially cocaine, by mules from South America. Once the drugs were on the island, they were adulterated in order to give them higher value.
The operations branch took care of sales, while the logistics branch managed financial affairs, moving money into legal channels.