Spanish police, in collaboration with British and Irish authorities, have dismantled a criminal gang suspected of smuggled marijuana hidden inside sacks of animal feed sent to Ireland, officials said Thursday.

The investigation began in 2025 after authorities identified a group involving British, Irish, and Spanish nationals using international freight companies to ship pallets of animal feed with concealed marijuana buds to Ireland, Spain’s National Police said in a statement.

Officials estimate the group trafficked more than three tons of marijuana since 2019, maintaining steady monthly shipments, it added.

Several shipments were intercepted in Spain and Ireland during the probe, with about 300 kilos of marijuana seized.
Authorities arrested 13 people in Spain and one in Ireland. The operation was carried out with support with Ireland’s Garda Siochana and Britain’s National Crime Agency.

Twelve raids were carried out in Madrid and the southern region of Andalusia, where officers seized a semiautomatic pistol, three blank-firing guns, and 96,000 euros ($104,000) in cash.

Spain is a major gateway for drug trafficking into Europe due to its proximity to Morocco — a leading cannabis producer and its historical ties to Latin America.