Joint Operation Takes Down Major European Drug Hub
In a recent joint law enforcement effort codenamed ‘Operation Vanilla’ (Operación Vainilla), Spain’s National Police, in collaboration with France’s Anti-Narcotics Office (OFAST), successfully dismantled a massive underground methamphetamine (meth) laboratory in the Spanish region of Catalonia. Official sources indicate that the facility is considered one of the largest of its kind discovered in Europe in recent years and is linked to a criminal organization connected to Mexico’s notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel.
A Smuggling Chain Concealed as “Vanilla Essence”
The investigation began in June 2024 when French authorities detected an anomaly in a shipping container originating from Mexico and destined for Spain. The container’s declared cargo was approximately 12.7 tons of liquid artificial vanilla essence, but authorities suspected a large quantity of methamphetamine was dissolved within it, attempting to smuggle it across borders under the guise of a legitimate product.
Under close surveillance, the shipment entered Spain via France. Its transport route showed that the goods were first stored at a logistics company in Barcelona, then partially moved to an industrial warehouse in the same province, before finally reaching their destination: a remote estate in the town of Almenar, in the province of Lleida.
Sophisticated Lab and Staggering Seizure
Police raided the estate and discovered its interior had been converted into a well-equipped underground drug production lab. The criminal group used complex chemical processes to extract, purify, and crystallize the drug from the vanilla-laced liquid, ultimately producing crystal meth ready for market distribution.
During the raid, law enforcement officers seized a total of approximately 2,400 kilograms of methamphetamine, with about 1,600 kilograms still dissolved in the vanilla liquid. Additionally, police confiscated six vehicles, nearly 4,500 euros in cash, and a large quantity of chemicals, industrial equipment, and multiple electronic devices used for drug manufacturing.
Multi-location Arrests and Case Developments
The operation resulted in the arrest of 13 suspects, with arrests made in the provinces of Lleida (5 people), Barcelona (4 people), and Tarragona (4 people). The majority of those apprehended are of Mexican nationality, along with four Spanish and two Colombian nationals. They will face multiple charges, including belonging to a criminal organization and crimes against public health. A court has ordered 12 of them to be held in pre-trial detention.
According to initial assessments, the group may have planned to smuggle over 2.5 tons of methamphetamine into Europe by dissolving it in about 12 tons of liquid. The investigation is ongoing to fully uncover the drug trafficking network’s complete structure and distribution channels within Europe.
