An investigation led by a judge in Vigo has led to the dismantling of a gang, following the arrest of four members residing in the Canary Islands, that was supplying drug traffickers on the islands with ‚ghost weapons‘: weapons illegally manufactured abroad without serial numbers to prevent them from being traced.
This operation, known as ‚Terminales‘ and announced by the Guardia Civil in a statement on Friday, involved collaboration with Europol, Portugal, France and Italy.
The investigation began in October 2025 after a consignment of firearms and ammunition was intercepted at Vigo Airport (Pontevedra); an individual had been attempting to take it by plane to the Canary Islands, having «meticulously concealed» it, and was subsequently arrested.
Ghost weapons: Missing serial numbers prevent traceability
Investigations carried out by the Guardia Civil’s Intelligence Service’s arms trafficking unit established that several of the weapons were illegally manufactured pistols, assembled abroad using key components from various sources; these are known as ‚ghost guns‘, as they lack serial numbers and identifying markings and cannot therefore be traced.
The investigation also established that the first person arrested was a ‚courier‘ who, in exchange for money, had been hired by another person to transport the weapons. Once the person who had hired him had been identified, they were arrested in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria in the days that followed.
An analysis of the documents seized from these first two detainees, together with the enquiries and exchanges of information regarding the weapons carried out with Europol, Italy, France and Portugal, made it possible to establish that they were part of a larger organised group dedicated to smuggling consignments of firearms from the Iberian Peninsula to drug-trafficking organisations operating in the Canary Islands.
To this end, they would first obtain these weapons and ammunition from abroad and communicate with one another using encrypted messaging apps.
Fuerteventura and La Gomera: Two more suspects arrested
After identifying and locating the ringleaders of this criminal group at the end of last October, two further individuals were arrested in Fuerteventura and La Gomera, thereby dismantling the organised group.
As a result of this investigation, four people, all resident in the Canary Islands and aged 35, 42, 45 and 46 respectively, have been arrested, all of whom have criminal records, whilst two others are under investigation, according to a statement issued by the police force.
Six raids and searches have also been carried out, seizing eight handguns (7 pistols and 1 revolver), one rifle, one silencer, 500 metal cartridges of various handgun calibres, 15,000 euros in cash, one kilo of cocaine, equipment for adulterating and distributing narcotics, a vehicle fitted with a sophisticated false bottom for transporting weapons and narcotics, and documentation and electronic devices for analysis.
The detainees are charged with membership of a criminal group, the unlawful trafficking and storage of arms and ammunition, and an offence against public health (drug trafficking).
Guardia Civil: The operation is part of the national firearms plan
This operation forms part of the Guardia Civil’s Comprehensive Plan for the Control of Firearms (PICAF). The Guardia Civil is the force responsible at national level for the control of firearms and explosives; as such, its investigative units are constantly working to detect and neutralise emerging illegal arms supply networks, the statement notes.
The judge presiding over this investigation has ordered that one of the four detainees be remanded in custody.
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