The Costa del Sol, particularly Marbella, has become a hub for international organised crime, with at least 113 criminal groups from 59 nationalities operating in the region, according to Spanish intelligence. Police warn that the area now serves as a 'coworking space' for global gangs, including British, Italian and North African organisations.
Incidents of violence are rising. Last autumn, police rescued a kidnapping victim with holes drilled through his toes, while a luxury hotel was torched in a suspected settling of scores. British criminals have reported being confronted by North African 'soldiers' from Marseille clans in upscale areas like Puerto Banús.
The region's geography makes it ideal for drug trafficking: less than 10 miles from Morocco, the world's largest hashish producer, and near the port of Algeciras, a key entry point for cocaine. Gibraltar, a tax haven, lies across the bay. The mountains to the north are Europe's main marijuana cultivation area.
Authorities acknowledge that the problem has deep roots. During Spain's 1960s development boom, an unwritten agreement allowed criminals to bring their money to Marbella as long as they committed no crimes locally. This 'blind eye' policy attracted a global criminal elite that now operates with impunity.
Senior police officer Marcos Frías stated: 'If a crime boss from Liverpool wants to traffic drugs on a large scale, he knows he has to make an appearance in Marbella.' A Camorra member living in Marbella confirmed that groups from around the world collaborate without intermixing.
Despite the growing threat, police resources lag behind. The Special Organised Crime Response Unit (Greco) operates from an unassuming building in a working-class neighbourhood, with only two security cameras monitoring its entrance.
