Catalan police are investigating Croatia's honorary consul, Juli Barcena San Jose, in Barcelona over possible money laundering for a local criminal gang, a source from Catalonia's autonomous police told the Croatian state agency Hina on Friday.

Consul Juli Barcena San Jose, an entrepreneur who has held the post since May 2002, is suspected of receiving money from drug sales and, in order to cover up the trail, investing it in real estate and luxury cars.

Also under investigation are the honorary consuls of Albania, Jose Maria Calmet Iglesias and Mali, Jose Luis Lopez Fernandez. Both are suspected of the same crime.

Catalonia’s autonomous police Mossos d’Esquadra said on September 18, 2019, that they had arrested four members of a known family clan from Catalonia for money laundering and drug trafficking. They added that an investigation uncovered their business ties to the consuls, and that three honorary consuls stationed in Barcelona are under investigation.

A police source told Hina today that Croatia’s consul was under investigation, while a diplomat said Croatia would request his dismissal for damaging Croatia’s reputation.

Neither Barcena San Jose nor the Croatian consulate in Barcelona have issued any statement.