MADRID, Spain — The Central Operational Unit (UCO) of the Spanish Civil Guard has uncovered evidence suggesting that an alleged illicit network operating within the PSOE infiltrated the highest ranks of the institute, specifically targeting senior officials directly appointed by Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska.
The investigation, overseen by National Court Judge Santiago Pedraz, focuses on a purported criminal organization led by former PSOE official Santos Cerdán and executed by former party militant Leire Díez. The network’s alleged primary objective was to derail judicial investigations affecting the ruling party, the Government, and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. According to the judicial dossier, this alleged “sewer” network successfully penetrated the upper echelons of the Civil Guard, leveraging its influence to hinder ongoing legal probes.
The infiltration involved high-level directives to obstruct investigations, as detailed in the testimony of Rafael Yuste, the former head of the UCO. Yuste informed investigators that he faced direct pressure from the Civil Guard’s Deputy Director of Operations (DAO)—the highest operational command in the corps—to keep a “low profile” on cases involving the government and the Prime Minister. Both the DAO and the Director General of the Civil Guard are positions of direct appointment by the Interior Minister.
This pressure was particularly evident during the investigation into David Sánchez, the Prime Minister’s brother. Yuste detailed a meeting on July 12, 2024, with the then-Director General of the Civil Guard, Leonardo Marcos. Marcos reportedly dismissed the UCO’s request to seize emails related to the case as “totally speculative and malicious,” claiming the credibility of the UCO and the Civil Guard was “on the floor.” He allegedly demanded that a subsequent police report be completed within a week with the explicit instruction that it must be analyzed and conclude there was nothing to report. A follow-up meeting with the DAO on July 16 reinforced this stance, with the superior instructing Yuste that the unit could not be “proactive” in politically sensitive cases and that judicial authorities must take the initiative.
The judicial dossier also outlines a coordinated effort by Leire Díez to undermine the UCO from within by leveraging her access to the current Director General of the Civil Guard, Mercedes González, the highest political authority in the corps. Investigators believe Díez successfully instigated González to initiate administrative procedures aimed at launching an internal investigation against the UCO itself.
En un país decente Marlaska y la directora dela guardia civil a estas ya llevarían un buen rato con la dimisión presentada.
— ARES 🇪🇸🤍 🇮🇱 (@Quijote_cuerdo) June 4, 2026
La UCO acredita una reunión entre Leire Díez y la directora de la Guardia Civil y documenta contactos posteriores https://t.co/2OvGeQJaUQ
The UCO report details a series of meetings between Díez and González held near the Civil Guard’s Directorate General. While the first meeting in September 2024 did not yield conclusive evidence of discussing the alleged plot, a subsequent meeting in December reportedly involved Díez providing González with information regarding allegedly criminal activities that had targeted the Civil Guard and the UCO. Intercepted communications from a meeting involving Díez and other investigated figures, including lawyer Jacobo Teijelo, businessman Javier Pérez Dolset, and Civil Guard Captain Juan Sánchez Yepes, reveal Díez stating that her next conversation would be with the Director General, noting that she was “trusted” by her.
Following a third meeting between Díez and González on April 2, 2025, investigators noted a significant shift in their digital communications. In May, González activated a 24-hour auto-delete function on her WhatsApp messages with the former socialist militant. While the UCO confirms that messaging continued after this setting was enabled, the content of those subsequent communications remains unknown to investigators.
The National Court continues to evaluate the extensive evidence gathered by the UCO regarding the alleged criminal organization, which operated between 2024 and May 2025. The network is being investigated for a complex array of offenses, including criminal organization, bribery, prevarication, commercial document forgery, revelation of secrets, influence peddling, and inducement to perjury.
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As the judicial process advances, the court will continue to scrutinize the financial flows and communications that allegedly linked the political operatives with the compromised law enforcement officials. All individuals mentioned in the dossier remain presumed innocent until proven guilty through formal judicial proceedings.
