Hugo Bianco

DJ Hugo Bianco, who hails from Mar del Plata, Argentina, and was once a regular face at Marco Carola's Music On parties in Ibiza and clubs such as Amnesia, Pacha Ibiza and Destino. He's also featured on line-ups for Albania's Unum Festival, London's 93 Feet East, and BPM Festival in Costa Rica.

Following a joint investigation from Spain's Guardia Civil and US Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) dubbed Operation Pertinax, Bianco was identified as the "mastermind" behind a drug trafficking network alleged to have moved "significant" amounts of MDMA, cocaine, ketamine, and cannabis from the US to the Balearic Islands.

In 2020, 21 suspects were arrested in connection with the network at Bianco's residence in Jesús, Santa Eulària des Riu, Ibiza, with authorities seizing 38kg of cannabis, 4,500 cannabis plants, 8kg of synthetic drugs and €45,000 in cash from the property. Additional arrests in Miami and Barcelona resulted in the seizure of 47kg of MDMA pills and 14kg of ketamine.

The TSJB has rejected the defence's arguments that Bianco was not central to the drug trafficking operation and maintained investigators' use of wiretapped phone conversations as evidence. Alongside the prison sentence, Bianco has been fined €3 million. It will be possible for the defence to appeal the decision via the Spanish Supreme Court.