Operation Desert Light: Europol take down massive cocaine 'super cartel' - BBC

A drug "super cartel" that controlled about a third of Europe's cocaine supply has been dismantled, police have announced.

Dubbed Operation Desert Light, 49 people were arrested across six European countries, the EU's police agency, Europol, said.

Over 30 tonnes (30,000kg) of drugs were seized during the two-year-long investigation, Europol said.

Operation Desert Light saw authorities in Spain, France, Belgium, the Netherlands and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) work together to bring down the cartel, Europol said in a statement.

The British man suspected of heading the "super cartel" had fled to Dubai after earlier avoiding arrest in Spain, the country's Guardia Civil said in a statement.

Dutch prosecutors said they would request the extradition of the suspects from the UAE who now face large-scale drug trafficking and money laundering charges.

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