The Spanish Civil Guard has found something surprising during an operation against drug trafficking in the north of Spain. The officers found more than 2kg of cocaine hidden in the engine of a rental car and were concealed in a modified compartment designed to look like part of the car’s air filter system. This finding led to the arrest of the driver, who now faces charges related to drug trafficking. So, let’s find out more about what happened.
Operation: Rainman II
The case is part of an investigation called ‘’Operation Rainman II’’, focused on a fight against drug trafficking in the north of Spain. Particularly, the officers investigated a route used to transport cocaine from Galicia to Vizcaya, one of the main entry points of the substance in the country.
The operation started about 3 months ago, when a man was identified at a routine checkpoint in Cantabria. The officers asked the man for his documents and checked the vehicle he was driving.
At that moment, they didn’t find any illegal substance, but something that caught their attention: two large hidden compartments inside the vehicle. In police language, these secret spaces are called “caletas.’’ These ‘’caletas’’ tend to be used for hiding drugs or money, which is why the officers decided to keep investigating the suspect.
A rental car with a modified engine
After that first checkpoint, officers continued with the investigation for weeks. Eventually, they stopped a rental car driven by the same man (or someone closely linked to him). What did they find in the car? The engine was being modified. The air filter, which is a key part of the engine that cleans the air before it enters, wasn’t in its normal place. Instead, there was a suspicious-looking empty space.
When officers examined the empty space in detail they found 2 packages perfectly wrapped, each weighted about 1kg. Then, after doing some testing, they confirmed it was cocaine (a 2,250g total).
This finding was considered a huge police success since the officers discovered how a secret box was created by joining 2 pieces of the engine, designed to perfectly fit inside the air filter. At first glance, it seemed like another part of the car, which made it impossible to detect the drug without a detailed inspection.
Arrest of the driver
After finding the cocaine, the officers arrested the driver of the vehicle at the same place of the checkpoint. The man was arrested and accused of a possible crime of drug trafficking, which is a serious criminal offense in Spain.
Authorities haven’t revealed yet more personal data about the man, but they confirmed he is under custody and that the investigation is still open to determine if he is part of a broader drug trafficking network.
According to the Spanish Civil Guard, the way the drug was hidden was very sophisticated and designed to avoid police checkpoints. The modifications to the engine and the false filter showed careful planning, suggesting that the suspect might be part of an organized group that moves drugs between regions.
A creative way of drug trafficking
This case shows how much people involved in drug trafficking look for very wise ways to hide illegal substances. However, thanks to the Spanish Civil Guard job and the experience of the officers, the plan was discovered before the drug reached its final destiny.
The Operation Rainman II is still open and it’s expected to discover more details about people and routes involved in this attempt of transporting cocaine. When we heard about these kinds of cases, it’s when we realise how important is the officers’ job.