Marbella holiday warning: Holidaymakers warned as Puerto Banus identified as 'base' of 'major' drug trafficking organisation as restaurant and yacht raided

A restaurant and yacht in popular holiday destination Puerto Banus, in Marbella, was raided by police after agents identified the base of a huge international drug trafficking organisation. According to The Olive Press, the organisation, which allegedly employed powerful drug lords from Colombia and dealt with German Hell’s Angels gangs, was run out of a restaurant in Puerto Banus.

Police say the group operated between Jerez de la Frontera, Estepona and Marbella, and smuggled hundreds of kilos of hashish into Germany, disguising it in shipments of lemons. Police claim that the alleged gang leaders were two Germans of Iranian and Moroccan origin and would use the restaurant to hold meetings. 

They also had a yacht docked in Marbella - with authorities believing that the suspects held discreet meetings there with other drug traffickers. The investigation began in 2022, and several drug seizures occurred last summer in the province of Cadiz. 

In Malaga, police found suspects in Puerto Banus, San Pedro de Alcantara and Estepona. In Cadiz they also surveilled individuals in Sanlucar de Barrameda and Jerez de la Frontera. As a result of these findings police found the base of the organisation to be the Puerto Banus restaurant and the yacht. 

It also uncovered ties of the organisation to prominent members of Hells Angels MC biker gang that all have a history of drug trafficking. The organisation’s operation would involve transporting drugs to Germany and concealing them in compartments of vehicles and trucks.

According to The Olive Press, police found that suspects would change location of the stash houses between Marbella, Sanlúcar de Barrameda and Utrera Sevilla. At the end of April eight people were arrested in Spain, two in Marbella, five in Estepona and one in the province of Seville - while two people were arrested in Germany. 

It comes as the country launches “Operation Marbella” to crackdown on violence after recent gang shootings. There were two terrifying shootings in March within the space of a week. One incident unfolded at a famous British-owned restaurant in the area, La Sala and no one was injured.

In the other incident just days prior a British man, 21, was seriously injured in a shoot-out in Puerto Banus. Police have warned locals and visitors they can expect to see more random stops and officer checkpoints in and the holiday destinations. They are understood to be increasing vigilance in residential areas as well as shopping centres and nightspots, including in Puerto Banus, known for attracting millionaires.