In vulnerable neighborhoods of Andalusia, the power of traditional drug-dealing clans is now being reinforced with weapons of war. These families, who control the retail sale of drugs and marijuana cultivation in occupied apartments, have managed to gain access to assault submachine guns like the AK-47, chambered in 7.62 millimeter caliber.
Police sources indicate that 80% of seized weapons are AK-47s, often originating from the Sahel and Horn of Africa, where they are acquired at low cost to defend drug selling points or narco-boats. Police investigations have revealed a 'democratization' of the arms trade, allowing clans historically involved in marijuana to now supply themselves with military-grade weaponry.
The price of approximately 9,000 euros per submachine gun has made weapons like the AK-47 or M-4 accessible not only to major mafias but also to local groups. These arsenals are traded through channels like WhatsApp, with test firings in underground shooting ranges.
Examples of their use are becoming increasingly frequent. In Malaga, cases have been recorded such as a man firing at his ex-partner's home with an AK-47. In small towns like Cuevas Bajas and Cuevas de San Marcos, shootings have occurred with 7.62 millimeter caliber weapons, capable of penetrating bulletproof vests.
Following incidents like those in Cuevas de San Marcos, the Civil Guard seized marijuana plantations, hashish, and distribution equipment, highlighting the connection between local drug trafficking and weapons of war. In the La Trinidad neighborhood of Malaga, a police operation dismantled indoor marijuana plantations in occupied apartments and confiscated an arsenal including submachine guns, sawed-off shotguns, pistols, and bulletproof vests.
The 'Corralones' operation in La Trinidad resulted in the arrest of 24 individuals, investigated for crimes including attempted homicide, illegal possession of weapons, and drug trafficking. The operation required the deployment of over 250 agents to ensure security.
Clan violence is spreading across Andalusia. One example is the open dispute between the Saúles and Los Lateros clans in Adra (Almería), which has resulted in one death and several injuries. An argument over music volume escalated into a shooting, forcing members of one clan to flee to Huelma (Jaén), where they also suffered an attack.
