Andorra 'Operation Wolves' Cocaine Trial Ends with Contradictory Testimonies

Witness examinations in Andorra's "Operation Wolves" cocaine trafficking trial concluded Thursday at the Tribunal de Corts after five days of testimony from eight Peruvian defendants, revealing stark contradictions over drug ownership, supply chains, and code words amid defenses challenging police procedures.

The case originated from a March 2024 raid on a shared apartment that uncovered nearly 200 grams of cocaine cut with caffeine and lidocaine, plus cash, scales, phones, and packaging. Prosecutors demand nine years for the lead suspect, eight for the second, seven for the third, and six for the fourth, alongside conditional sentences for the four facing possession or use charges.

Police witnesses on Wednesday detailed surveillance starting late 2023 based on tips about sales at homes and workplaces. They intercepted the 43-year-old lead defendant outside his job with seven grams prepared for distribution. Officers described code phrases such as "roba," "polos," "tuppers," "sandías verdes" for police, and "aguas revueltas" for checks, plus joint trips to Barcelona for supply and deleted chats on the second suspect's phone. They identified the silent fourth defendant as a major supplier, delivering 10-15 grams every few days to the leader—potentially 150 grams monthly—with his October arrest yielding 37.5 grams, €1,750 cash, and suspicious Bizum transfers totaling nearly €2,000 in two months.

The lead suspect, held since the raid, admitted small-scale dealing since early 2023 due to housing costs despite steady hospitality work. He retracted his initial claim that seven packets were for personal use, citing stress, and denied consumption or priors. Buying 10-gram batches for €450-500, he sold grams at €50-60 via WhatsApp, with pickups at his building; bank records showed €5,800 from roughly 115 grams, aligning with sales alongside wages. He supplied some co-defendants and La Seu d'Urgell buyers but rejected nightclub, event, or workplace sales, organized crime ties, or owning all apartment drugs. Codes like "samarretes," "petos," and "uniformes" signaled drugs to clients but sports gear to his landlord. He expressed remorse over his six-year-old autistic son in Peru and denied swapping drugs for drinks in nightlife spots.

The second suspect, the 11-year resident earning over €3,000 monthly from two jobs and detained two years since, testified only through counsel. He denied trafficking, buying, selling, or using, saying cocaine in his room was temporarily held for the lead tenant to hide from family—backed by his negative drug test. €700 cash at work was unpaid sublet rent; he evicted the man afterward, shared rental ads, and lamented residency risks for his five-year-old daughter, unseen for two years.

The third, provisionally released after 15 years in Andorra on €1,700-1,800 monthly plus overtime, admitted initial lies due to finances. He resold grams mainly from his childhood friend, the lead defendant, sometimes on credit—at €35-50 purchase, €60 sale, up to €25 profit. "Pizzes" meant grams, with orders to 15 units. Bizum and transfers of €60-120, labeled "extres," "televisió," "futbol," "sopar," or "copes," shifted from fake gigs to drug money; February 2024 extras topped €2,000, with 81 post-raid inflows suggesting over 100 grams sold in under a year. Excuses like Galicia trips, bingo, or online sales collapsed, as did claims of eight-gram weekly use or nightclub denials. He disavowed phone photos of scales and packages; 15 grams at his October arrest came from an unknown source. Now on 12-hour shifts supporting his seven-year-old Andorran son, €2,000 monthly covers care, school, and rent, saving €500-600—he vowed reform.

The 43-year-old fourth invoked silence, citing death threats to his wife and son; counsel waived his spouse's testimony.

Defenses, opening Monday, contested the raid's legality without a warrant, alleging privacy violations despite claimed on-site consent. They disputed "large quantity" status, arguing pure cocaine was under 100 grams after diluents; prosecutors cited precedent on psychoactive mixes. Lawyers later accused prosecutors of biased questions prepared with police and lacking "equality of arms," claiming early suspect statements lacked counsel.

The four lesser defendants denied buying from the lead suspect, recasting codes as clothes, food, drinks, or gifts. The fifth tied a €150 payment to old clothing and past work abroad, last use a decade ago. The sixth admitted eviction-era contacts and irregular status but cited clothing aid, no cocaine, and test willingness. The seventh blamed messages on an ex-partner buying drugs, whom he followed unknowingly; the lead seemed vaguely familiar. The eighth attributed chats to her ex-partner. All denied use or ties, some shifting blame to partners using their phones.

Main suspects expressed remorse, citing family strains including an Oliola traffic death. Remaining evidence review follows.