Three British teenagers were arrested on Spain's Costa del Sol on September 21 after police uncovered an arsenal of weapons and a plan to steal drugs from a gang. The suspects, aged 17 and 18, were found with five semiautomatic pistols, machetes, baseball bats, clown masks, and masks resembling human faces, according to Spanish news outlet ABC.
The group, which included two brothers, was known to authorities and had previous police records related to fights and assaults. One of the boys' fathers reportedly has a criminal record in the UK linked to organized crime. Two of the teenagers grew up on the Costa del Sol.
Spanish authorities began investigating the group in July after a stolen car was reported in Portugal. The vehicle was tracked to the Benabola car park in Puerto Banus, Marbella, where it was found with cloned Swedish number plates. Police observed weapons and disguises in the car and placed it under surveillance. Investigators noted that the suspects wore latex gloves while handling the vehicle and kept their heads covered.
The car was believed to have been used for storing drugs. The teenagers were also seen selling drugs and frequently visiting cannabis clubs. During the investigation, police raided two houses and seized 827 grams of ketamine, 670 grams of a substance described as tusi, 52 grams of MDMA, and 425 ecstasy tablets. Additionally, officers confiscated €21,975, £410, and $100 in cash.
Authorities suspect that Swedish gangs supplied the weapons, raising concerns about a planned drug robbery. The 18-year-old suspect has been remanded in custody, while the two 17-year-olds have been placed in a juvenile detention center.
Drug traffickers have historically maintained an advantage over law enforcement along Spain's southern coast, utilizing drones, radar, and thermal cameras to evade detection. Juan Luján, head of the Spanish National Police organized crime unit in the region, stated that authorities cannot allow smuggling boats to operate openly, especially near families on the beach. Despite efforts, he noted that security forces have lost control over parts of the coastal waters.