Crime and Public Safety

11 Spaniards Arrested Over Ketamine Import Attempt

The latest arrests by the Spanish Guardia Civil come after an Italian national was arrested in Western Australia last year.
11 Spaniards Arrested Over Ketamine Import Attempt
The moment Spanish police break down the door of a suspected member of a transnational drug importation syndicate, accused of attempting to smuggle a large quantity of ketamine into Australia. Australian Federal Police
Rex Widerstrom
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Eleven people have been arrested in Spain, accused of being part of a transnational organised crime syndicate trafficking illicit drugs to Australia. Raids were conducted at nine locations across Barcelona and Ibiza following an international police investigation.

The arrests were the culmination of Operation Helidon, which was launched following the discovery by Australian Border Force (ABF) officers of about 1.5 kilograms of ketamine hidden in a package of Christmas toys, which arrived in Perth from Spain on Christmas day in 2023.

Rex Widerstrom
Rex Widerstrom
Author
Rex Widerstrom is a New Zealand-based reporter with over 40 years of experience in media, including radio and print. He is currently a presenter for Hutt Radio.