Prosecutors Demand 8-Year Sentences in Andorra 'Operació Llops' Cocaine Trial

Prosecutors in the Tribunal de Corts "Operació Llops" cocaine trafficking trial wrapped up their closing arguments on the trial's fourth day, demanding prison sentences of eight years for three of the four main Peruvian defendants, along with fines up to €200,000 and expulsions from the Principat. The fourth faces six years and three months, a €40,000 fine and expulsion.

For the lead defendant, arrested in March 2024 outside his workplace carrying seven grams ready for sale, €600 cash and two phones tied to transactions, prosecutors sought eight years and a €200,000 fine—down from an initial nine-year request due to his confession, cooperation and signs of rehabilitation. A flat search uncovered additional drugs, packaging and scales. Intercepted chats showed 242 grams sold over a year through WhatsApp, funded by cash or Bizum transfers totaling €5,800 from about 115 grams. He confessed to local dealing but denied organized crime links, later retracting a claim of nightclub barters as poor legal advice amid rent struggles.

His flatmate, detained nearly two years, drew the same eight-year term, €180,000 fine and expulsion. Over 130 grams came from his room, with evidence of joint operations and profit-sharing; prosecutors rejected his storage-only defense.

The request rose to eight years and €150,000 for the third Peruvian, freed provisionally in October 2024. Prosecutors pegged his role at 280 grams, including sales via La Seu d'Urgell after the lead's arrest. He admitted initial lies about personal use, confirming buys at €35-50 per gram resold at €60 for €25 profit margins. He acknowledged 81 suspicious transfers—coded as "TV" or "football," totaling €16,000—that pushed his €1,700-€1,800 salary over €2,500 monthly amid Galicia trips, debts and extras. "Pizzas" meant grams in messages, with 15 signaling 75 grams plus 15 seized. He expressed remorse for his seven-year-old Andorran son and savings of €500-600 from €2,000 income.

The 43-year-old fourth defendant refused to testify on day two, citing death threats to his wife and son; his lawyer then dropped her planned appearance. Police called him a major supplier delivering 10-15 grams every few days—up to 150 grams monthly, "substantial for Andorra"—with 37.5 grams and €1,750 seized, plus €1,950 in Bizums.

Earlier days included day two confessions from the third defendant and silence from the fourth, plus denials from four consumption defendants (two Andorrans, two Peruvians). They rejected buys from the lead, blaming messages on ex-partners, clothes sales (€150 owed), jobs or aid. One cited no use in a decade and time abroad; another described help and clothing during hardship, denying cocaine involvement and offering tests.

Day three featured police testimony on late-2023 surveillance, arrests (one with 3.3 grams and €170), codes like "roba" for cocaine, "sandías verdes" for Civil Guard and "aguas revueltas" for patrols, Telegram wipes, Barcelona sourcing and profit splits. Defenses alleged "unequal arms," prepped questions, unassisted statements and inferences; officers admitted some deductions as magistrates quelled tensions.

The lead's lawyer requested four years (part conditional) and release after two years detained, citing no priors, work record and prison reflection. Other defenses remain pending before trial closure. Consumption defendants face three months conditional sentences. Prosecutors labeled the network "large and prolonged."