From a cell in Quatre Camins prison, a 37-year-old man, incarcerated for homicide and considered the leader of a criminal organization, directed a complex arms trafficking network. Using clandestine mobile phones, he communicated with his family, who from their home in El Pla del Penedès recorded and manipulated videos of shotguns and revolvers. These materials were distributed to potential buyers, often linked to organized crime and drug trafficking, thus managing sales.
The leader's wife, once a deal was closed, was responsible for delivering the orders to buyers at agreed-upon locations, such as supermarket parking lots or outside shopping centers. This tactic, carried out in broad daylight, aimed to minimize suspicion and allowed the family to distribute weapons for years throughout Catalonia, and occasionally to other cities in Spain and France.
The investigation began last December, following up on a previous operation against the Trinitarios in Catalonia. In January 2026, the Mossos d'Esquadra started tracing the main arms supplier for this youth organization. They identified the leader, a 37-year-old man held in Quatre Camins, and began dismantling the network surrounding him.
The operation, which concluded on July 7th, was a joint effort between the National Police and the Mossos d'Esquadra. Nine searches were conducted in homes and the suspect's cell, uncovering two arms caches with over forty pistols, a rocket launcher, thousands of bullets, a bulletproof shield, shotguns, and a hand grenade. One of the arsenals was found in the family car to avoid suspicion.
In total, nine individuals (five men and four women) aged between 20 and 48 were arrested, allegedly members of the organization. Six of them have been brought before the court, accused of belonging to a criminal organization and possession, deposit, and trafficking of firearms.
According to the sergeant of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Mossos d'Esquadra from Sant Feliu de Llobregat, the family not only had an extensive stock but also operated on demand, acquiring specific models. The leader acted as a 'broker,' even selling shotguns for 8,000 euros. Members of the network took a portion of the profits, increasing the final price. The ease with which they obtained specific weapons made buyers willing to pay. The serial numbers on the seized weapons were erased, but 38 imitation Glock pistols were found.
Although the core of the group was the family, they relied on a network of collaborators for obtaining and selling weapons. The sergeant highlighted that a "very active" organization has been dismantled, and the chief inspector of the National Police, Carlos Gil, emphasized that a key supply chain for other criminal groups has been interrupted.
The investigation remains open to determine if ammunition found in recent shootings in Catalonia originated from this group.
