Due to the activities of these clans, Galicia is often cited as being the main European entry point for Colombian cocaine.
Following the crippling of the fishing industry, local fishermen began smuggling tobacco to keep their business alive.
Using their Colombian and Moroccan contacts, Galician organized crime groups traffic cocaine and hashish, aside from illegal tobacco, into the Spanish mainland.
From Galicia it is distributed to major cities in Spain via other Galician contacts or via criminal groups consisting of Colombian expatriates.
While the Galician smuggling business in the beginning was very local, the internationalization of the organized criminal activities have led to crime-related clan feuds where murder, kidnapping and torture is occasionally committed by criminal Galician clan-members or Colombian contacts and contract killers.
[9] Allegations of political corruption arose when pictures were found of Galician premier Alberto Núñez Feijóo vacationing with convicted smuggler Marcial Dorado.
[13] Led by Manuel Charlín Gama they are probably the most notable organized crime clan operating in the region.
[19] Clan based in Muxía that control cocaine traffic in A Costa da Morte region.