Security investigations have identified a key leader of a transnational criminal organization who has been residing in the UAE since 2023 and coordinating with other international criminal groups. The probe began in October 2024 following the seizure of 13 tons of cocaine hidden in banana shipments at Spain's Algeciras port. Collaboration between Ecuadorian police and Europol linked this organization to 14 smuggling operations totaling 42.5 tons of cocaine destined for Europe. Operating since 2019, the group utilized at least 15 export companies involving bananas, seafood, and cocoa to camouflage illicit goods. The syndicate, which maintains ties with the Balkan mafia and the 'Mocro mafia,' used encrypted platforms to manage the transit of drugs from Colombian laboratories to various European ports.