It’s worthy of a suspense film, but the story is very real. In Spain, a high-ranking police officer, Óscar Sánchez Gil, has fallen from grace, taking with him the credibility of an elite unit. We’re talking about corruption here. Then there’s the matter of cocaine. Stashes of cash that would make Pablo Escobar blush are also involved. It’s the case scandalizing an entire country.
The model cop… or the perfect impostor?
Óscar Sánchez Gil had everything to be the archetype of the impeccable police officer: head of the highly respected UDEF, a discreet man in his forties, he embodied integrity in uniform. Except he was actually playing for the opposing team. While his colleagues were hunting down the narcos, he was paving the way for them, turning Spanish ports into lucrative sieves.
The beginning of the end? A historic seizure of 13 tons of cocaine, hidden among Ecuadorian bananas, last October at the port of Algeciras. By peeling back the skin of the fruits, customs officers uncovered a sprawling network. Surprise: at the top, a familiar face. And it wasn’t the local banana seller.
"Casa del Billete": a jackpot behind the walls
On October 14, the search at Sánchez Gil’s home turned into a spectacle worthy of an escape game for investigators. Behind a wall: eight million euros. In a false ceiling: twelve million more. And for dessert, a final million was quietly resting in two locked cabinets in his office.
The bills, neatly stacked, ranged from 50 to 500 euros. A treasure "too good to be true," according to an investigator, who compared the house to those of the biggest drug traffickers. Sánchez Gil probably didn’t appreciate the comparison.
Accomplices until the end of the night… and the shipments
The police chief was not a lone wolf. Fifteen accomplices, including his police officer partner (yes, keeping it in the family), were arrested. Their modus operandi? Offering the narcos a "premium service" by sharing sensitive information on port controls.
No flashy Lamborghinis or private jets in their arsenal. The gang preferred cryptocurrencies, shell companies, and… a fleet of VTCs. Yes, Ubers to launder the millions. Practical and discreet, until it all came crashing down.
A well-orchestrated downfall
Authorities had suspected him for two years. Between surveillance, wiretaps, and cross-referencing investigations, the net slowly closed in on Sánchez Gil. The banana container was the final element to bring him down. Worse still, it was revealed that the importer linked to this shipment was directly working with a company owned by Sánchez Gil. Bigger than that was hard to find.
A national betrayal
Today, Sánchez Gil and his partner are contemplating their choices behind bars. Indicted for drug trafficking, corruption, and money laundering, they symbolize a system corroded by its own guardians.
This "scandal of the year" leaves a bitter taste. We are talking about Spain. It feels betrayed by one of its protectors. It is revealed that you don’t always have to look far for the villains. Sometimes, they’re right there, in a pristine office… with a false ceiling full of cash.
Illustration – The police officer shown is not the person involved in the incident.