National Police in Málaga have arrested eight suspects in a drugs operation which has broken up the core leadership of a gang which smuggled cocaine into Spain from South America.

National Police in Málaga have arrested eight suspects in a drugs operation which has broken up the core leadership of a gang which smuggled cocaine into Spain from South America. Police said in a statement that 19 kilos of cocaine were seized in the course of their investigations.The organisation, led by a Nigerian man from Yame, was based in Málaga City and used Spanish couriers to bring the drugs into Spain hidden in books, picture frames and souvenirs from their trips abroad. Four of the suspects, aged 30 to 43, worked as couriers for the gang, while three others in custody were in charge of finding new recruits for the smuggling operation.Europa Press reports that the police operation remains open and further arrests have not been ruled out.