Mossos d'Esquadra and the National Police have arrested nine people and seized over 40 weapons, including a military-grade weapon, in an operation that began in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat.
The organisation was led by an inmate from Quatre Camins prison who, from his cell, coordinated operations and gave instructions to his family members. The weapons deliveries took place outside the prison, in broad daylight, without raising suspicion.
The investigation, which started in January following information about a violent youth gang in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, culminated on July 7 with a deployment of 130 agents who carried out ten simultaneous searches in various locations, including L'Hospitalet, Barcelona, Montcada i Reixac, Canovelles, Badia del Vallès, Piera, Reus, El Pla del Penedès, and the Quatre Camins prison itself.
During the searches, two complete arsenals were seized. The confiscated material includes a military-grade weapon, 38 semi-automatic pistols resembling the Glock brand, two revolvers, four shotguns, a thousand rounds of various calibres, a hand grenade, bulletproof vests, a ballistic shield, and €12,000 in cash.
The network bought, stored, and sold weapons to third parties, including the Trinitarios gang. According to the investigations, the handguns were sold for between €4,000 and €5,000, while the shotguns and the military-grade weapon reached €8,000.
To promote the material, the organisation used secret communication channels where they shared photographs and videos of the weapons. The partner's daughter was allegedly responsible for marketing tasks and recording the videos.
The inmate's partner, according to the Mossos d'Esquadra, stored the weapons at her home and made deliveries by car to criminal groups, moving about freely during the day.
The joint operation between the Mossos d'Esquadra and the National Police was in response to the state body maintaining another open investigation into a supplier and groups operating outside Catalonia. As part of the same operation, a network of the Trinitarios that was raiding occupied flats in Barcelona and L'Hospitalet was also dismantled.
The final balance of the operation is nine arrests – five men and four women aged between 20 and 48 – two dismantled arsenals, and over 40 firearms seized.
L'Hospitalet de Llobregat maintains six critical points this summer with police and municipal reinforcement to prevent youth violence and arms trafficking.
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