On August 13, 2026, the Civil Guard carried out the arrest of an international fugitive in Badalona, following collaboration with the Belgian Federal Police. The operation, named “Dede”, aimed to capture an individual wanted in 31 countries on charges of drug trafficking and money laundering.
According to the Civil Guard, the arrested individual was considered the alleged leader of a criminal organization operating in Belgium that was dedicated to international drug trafficking, mainly cannabis, from the United States to Europe.
International Collaboration
This arrest is part of the “Liberty Leaf” operation, which was initiated in 2025 by Belgian authorities. In this investigation, 28 searches had been carried out, resulting in the seizure of large quantities of drugs, cash, and weapons.
The investigations allowed Belgian authorities to confirm that there was a criminal structure with a top leader coordinating all activities related to drug trafficking. Unable to locate the fugitive after several arrests of other involved parties, they requested international assistance for his capture.
The Arrest in Badalona
The Civil Guard located the fugitive in the Sants district of Barcelona, where he had taken refuge since mid-2025. This individual had the help of collaborators who provided him with false documentation, means of transport, and personal protection.
A special operation was established by the UOPJ and the USECIC of the Civil Guard, and the fugitive was arrested in the Sant Roc area of Badalona. At the time of his arrest, he was carrying 3,000 euros in cash, high-end watches, encrypted phones, and false documentation, which was verified through fingerprint matching with the collaboration of Belgium.
The arrested individual, a Belgian citizen, has been placed at the disposal of the Central Investigating Court of the National Court, which has ordered his imprisonment and agreed to his extradition to the Belgian authorities.
For more information about the operation, you can contact the communication office of the Civil Guard in Barcelona at the phone number 934766091.
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