In a shocking twist, the Spanish National Police have detained Óscar Sánchez Gil, head of the country’s economic crime and anti-money laundering unit, over alleged ties to a major drug trafficking network. Sánchez Gil and his wife, who is also an officer, were reportedly hiding over €20 million in illicit gains at their home, as reported by Spanish media outlets.
Sánchez Gil, once a respected figure in Spain’s anti-drug division, is now at the center of one of the nation’s largest criminal scandals within law enforcement. Authorities detained him, along with his wife and thirteen other suspects, just days after dismantling a large drug trafficking operation that led to Spain’s largest cocaine seizure to date. The bust occurred on November 6 in the Port of Algeciras, where officials intercepted over 13,000 kilograms of cocaine, the second-largest drug seizure in Europe’s history.
Over €20 Million Discovered Hidden in Walls of Spanish Police Chief’s Home
update 10-11-2024
In a case that’s shocked both colleagues and the public, Spanish authorities have detained a police chief and his wife after discovering more than €20 million hidden in their home in Alcalá de Henares. The couple, now under investigation, had allegedly concealed the fortune within a double wall structure in their house. Reports in Spanish media reveal an additional €1 million in cash stashed in the police chief’s Madrid office, mainly in €50 notes.
🔴 #EXCLUSIVA | Los vehículos de lujo de la trama del Jefe Policial detenido con 20 millones en las paredes de su casa
— El Debate (@eldebate_com) November 8, 2024
El Debate accede a las imágenes exclusivas del parque móvil: https://t.co/hihtPgbGQg pic.twitter.com/d2FF4ouRUt
The detained officer, identified as Óscar S.G., had a long-standing career in law enforcement, including years in Spain’s Drugs and Organized Crime unit before moving up to lead the Economic Crime and Anti-Money Laundering division. According to the newspaper El Debate, this history of high-level involvement in anti-drug trafficking operations may have allowed the officer to establish questionable ties with drug traffickers, eventually leading to his own alleged involvement in smuggling operations.
Investigations into the couple, spearheaded by the Internal Affairs division, required months of undercover surveillance and wiretapping to confirm suspicions, reported La Vanguardia. The covert operation was necessary due to both suspects’ law enforcement status. During the investigation, authorities uncovered links between the police chief and a firm allegedly connected to drug traffickers recently detained in Spain’s largest-ever cocaine seizure.
The findings also include a significant amount of cryptocurrency, which investigators suspect may represent profits from money laundering activities. Police sources clarified to El Mundo that the seized assets were likely “profits” amassed by the couple for their role in laundering drug money rather than funds directly owned by the drug organization itself.
The couple has reportedly been under suspicion for over a year, stemming from a suspicious transaction linked to a company involved in ongoing drug investigations. Despite these suspicions, colleagues and superiors of the police chief express shock at the revelations. According to El Mundo, Óscar S.G. was well-regarded in the department, known for his reserved demeanor and long-standing reputation within Madrid’s police ranks.
As the investigation unfolds, the case continues to captivate Spain, shedding light on the lengths to which the Internal Affairs division went to uncover alleged corruption within their own ranks.
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