Paradise of Meat Lovers: A Front for Drug Trade
Aromatic grills, tenderloins, juicy shrimps, and the lure of broken eggs, the restaurant on Aragón Avenue, at the edge of the A-2 Barcelona Highway, had something more than food to serve. Behind the tempting smell of grills, a notorious secret was harbored, invisible to the customers and the National Police, until recently. The back room of the restaurant was a front for a synthetic drug lab and a stash of hashish. The perfect cover-up.
Two weeks ago, the Central Udyco put the handcuffs on five suspects, all of Romanian nationality. The restaurant continues to operate, albeit with its Instagram profile voluntarily suspended.
Operation Magu: A Year-Long Investigation
Operation Magu was a year-long investigation that began in mid-2023. Investigators uncovered a cocaine import network that used shell companies. Following the lead, they discovered the suspects held meetings at the restaurant, usually in a section reserved for them.
One peculiar observation was the frequency of gatherings on the restaurant’s closure days. The short duration of these meetings—around 20 minutes—raised eyebrows. The possibility of dining within that time frame seemed unlikely.
After months of surveillance and other police procedures, the investigators identified the structure of the mafia, including the tasks of each member. They also identified the partners who brought cocaine through the Port of Valencia, some Colombians residing in the city.
Earlier this month, during one of the follow-ups, a constant flurry of vehicles was noticed, arousing suspicion of a possible narcotic handover, taking advantage of the absence of customers.
The suspects were seen coming and going with bags, prompting immediate action by the officers. Upon entering the premises, they noticed a strong smell of chemicals in the air, like sulfur, leading to an immediate evacuation and sealing of the place due to the risk of an explosion.
When it was finally safe to explore, they found a large number of stacked chairs in an adjoining house to the grill. Behind them was a tunnel that connected both spaces, unveiling the methamphetamine laboratory.
The stench of chemicals was overwhelming, but it was masked with the smells of the restaurant’s kitchen, particularly with two large charcoal grills.
A Safe with Counterfeit Money
During the search, police seized 5 kilos of hashish packed in vacuum-sealed bricks from one of the refrigerators, a pistol magazine, various knives, and a beacon detector. Hidden in a false bottom of a cupboard, they discovered a large security safe embedded in the wall. After more than three hours of work, they managed to open it, confiscating almost 60,000 euros in counterfeit bills from inside.
In the leader’s house, they discovered a stun gun, handcuffs, an extendable defense, numerous knives and machetes, as well as several radio transmitters and GPS beacons. One of the remaining tasks is to locate the leader. Three of the five arrested Romanians are in pre-trial detention, including the leader’s partner and two members responsible for the security of the premises.
The other detainees had access to the drugs and the laboratory. They also participated in all activities related to drug trafficking and maintained the facade by giving the business an appearance of legality, which continued to serve grills yesterday.