The Spanish Civil Guard has closed the secret tunnel used by drug trafficking networks to smuggle hashish through Ceuta. The tunnel entrance on the Spanish side has been sealed with a metal plate to prevent any attempts to reuse it. The site is under constant surveillance while awaiting a response from Moroccan authorities regarding the judicial cooperation request issued by the Spanish National Court. This request would allow inspection of the section of the tunnel that extends into Moroccan territory. This action is part of investigations by the National Court and the specialized anti-drug public prosecutor, following the third phase of Operation «Hades», which uncovered the existence of this secret passage. The operation led to the arrest of Ceuta parliamentary deputy Mohamed Ali Douas and two Civil Guard officers, who are currently in custody on charges of drug trafficking. Moroccan authorities discovered the tunnel's exit on their land, hidden beneath a house built in a restricted military area. Several individuals suspected of involvement have been identified. However, the Spanish National Court has yet to receive official confirmation of this discovery, amid reports that coordination between the two countries' authorities will be crucial to determine the tunnel's full length—reaching 12 meters deep and 50 meters long on the Spanish side—and to uncover the trafficking networks linked to it. Investigations by the Civil Guard suggest that the drug trafficking network benefited from an «internal protection structure», largely composed of complicit security personnel. This structure allowed large shipments of hashish to pass from Ceuta to mainland Spain since 2023, using trucks with secret compartments to conceal the drugs. So far, the operation has led to the arrest of 14 individuals, including two Civil Guard officers working at the Port of Ceuta, within the customs vehicle inspection section. Investigations indicate these officers facilitated the passage of large hashish shipments to the Port of Algeciras and from there to other parts of Spain and Europe, in exchange for sums exceeding 120,000 euros.
