Dutch nationals arrested in Spain during record cocaine bust

Spanish authorities have arrested several Dutch citizens as part of a large drug investigation, according to local media. A total of 12 people were detained. The group’s leader, Spanish-Colombian Paula Andrea, was caught a week and a half ago while attempting to escape from her residence, with police discovering over one million euros in cash in shopping bags inside her luxury Mercedes.

In a warehouse in Alcobendas near Madrid, 11 people had previously been arrested, most of whom were from Colombia and a few from the Netherlands.

Known as Operación Tocada Space, the operation led to the seizure of around 3,400 kilograms of cocaine, reportedly the largest land-based cocaine haul ever in the Madrid area. Police also took weapons, vehicles with concealed compartments, and other tools used to transport drugs. Authorities believe that Andrea may have been tipped off about the raid just before she was captured.

During Paula Andrea’s arrest, authorities discovered over 1 million euros in cash inside her luxury Mercedes, stored in shopping bags and marked with notes such as “Thank you, Universe.” Alongside Andrea, authorities detained her partner and two of her children, who are regarded as central members of the operation.

Rather than acting as a standard gang, the group served as a logistics hub for other drug networks, police say. They picked up cocaine from southern Spain, such as the river regions near Huelva and Cádiz, and moved it in convoys to Madrid for distribution throughout Europe.

The suspects had been under surveillance since mid-2024, but the investigation paused when they relocated to the Netherlands. Eventually, the group returned to Madrid.

Both Spain and other EU nations are dealing with unprecedented cocaine seizures, as Spain continues to serve as a major gateway for Latin American imports into Europe. In 2022 alone, EU countries seized hundreds of tons of cocaine, with Spain and Belgium at the top in terms of quantity.