Indoor marijuana plants linked to illegal connections The electricity grid in Spain is growing at a crazy pace and is clearly becoming a problem that goes beyond the energy field and literally enters the energy field. Citizen safety and public healthamong others.
emergence of the mafia With increasing problems, he becomes increasingly professional and resorts to violence. Disorders and addictions in adolescents, Safety risks in electrical installations for the neighbors living in these fields and even fires that sometimes cause These illegal connections are some of the main problems that need to be addressed. solve this threat and this will require a toughening of penalties against both cannabis trafficking and illegal connections to the power grid.
almost in spain 60% of electricity thefts is done through illegal linksThe most worrying, according to figures run by electricity company Endesa, are those linked to cannabis farms. Figures obtained in the last four years This phenomenon was repeated, while they are increasing couplings Allows feeding of indoor plants. Currently illegal installations closed In Spain they consume approx. 2,200 gigawatts/hour, This is equivalent to the electricity consumption of an entire city like Seville.
The Endesa e-distribution network subsidiary will be almost 63,000 complaints this led to More than 21,000 audits75% more than the previous year.
To analyze the current situation of indoor cannabis farms and address the risks they pose at an economic and social level. SPAIN NEWSPAPERSponsored by Prensa Ibérica group Endesa, A meeting was held with experts in Madrid under the title Beyond electricity fraud: consequences of illegal marijuana farms.
José Manuel Revuelta, general manager Endesa networksIn his speech, he stated that the installation of illegal planting indoors “really worrying” and “the current framework doesn’t support it getting better.” Today, these crops are 30% of total electricity fraud in Spain.
Revuelta describes this situation as “a very relevant social problem This brings with it brutal security risks.” He emphasized: “fraud kills“Alright, fires and electric shocks They are common in such installations.
The Endesa manager also reflected: The extent of the problem in our country and de facto “all Spaniards We finance cannabis smuggling to Northern Europe. It is unthinkable for us as a society to assume this when it exists. short term measures this can reduce it significantly.
Elena CogolloJudicial Police Technical Unit Commander Civil Guard, He announced that the Armed Institute had detected a Increase in the number of marijuana seizures in the fields closed and noted that they noticed something trend change in the purpose of crops. “In the beginning, production was more own consumptionbut then increasingly violent and professional mafias came These come from cocaine trafficking. Also, a social marijuana laundering“It was stressful.
The captain warned Spain this country”number one in cannabis production“It ranks third in Europe in terms of consumption. He pointed out that this is one of the reasons that directs its cultivation in our country.” cheaper and because it is not considered to be seriously harmful to health, it poses less of a risk than trafficking cocaine or heroin. The level of crime is not punished that much“. “With a single harvest, all the money invested is earned back, and on top of that, In 99% of cases they are illegally connected to light“.
Maria del Carmen BallesterSpecial Anti-Drug Prosecutor’s Office Prosecutor national audience For his part, he stated that he was behind illegal plantations and hemp crops”There is organized crime“.
Pedro Pablo Herraizpresident Ambitos Foundation, There is a factor that is pointed out along the same lines as with illegal connections: health and the other one too safety“Because this electrical manipulation “There are also consequences such as possible short circuit or fire.”
Herraiz also warned social impact this produces marijuana use in adolescents and I’ve been condemning it for a while Schizophrenia cases increased at an early age. “Youth They get it from society that consumption is good, He emphasized that it is a natural product and cannot be like cocaine or heroin.
Penalties for drug trafficking and electricity fraud have been toughened
Regarding the sanctions imposed Illegal possession or production of such drugs, María del Carmen Ballester emphasized that in the case of cannabis: It only carries a prison sentence of one to three years He said “at most” and pointed out that the majority of the production of this substance is in Spain. sold to other countries here “you pay up to five times more.”
Because, National Court Special Anti-Drug Prosecutor’s Office They make a suggestion change of jurisdiction this increases criminal liability for trafficking marijuana, hashish and other drugs. However, prosecutor Ballester admitted: various problems in this context and one of them is this: Europe moves towards “legalization” marijuana.”
Captain Cogollo said the Civil Guard “found the investigation very difficult and prove organized crime“Because in order to enter a house and register it, there is a judicial leave. In this sense, the representative of the Armed Institute, basic work performer Electricity companies will support the fight against electricity fraud in illegal plantations. “Although not many times thanks to your reports “There will be no confirmation of investigative powers,” he added.
Given this panorama, experts all agreed: There is just no need to make the penalties heavier not only against marijuana smuggling, but also stop illegal links They become an accelerator of a rapidly advancing problem in all its dimensions.
Insecurity
José Manuel Revuelta, director of Endesa, explained: “absolute lack of protection“The electricity companies that were in this situation before electricity fraud and its rapid growth was spurred by the illegal cultivation of marijuana.
guarantees it employees “playing their luck” every time they try to intervene stop fraud. “Workers wear balaclavas and They are exposed to all kinds of pressure. Mafias of organized groups that resort to violence electrifying doors to defend themselves and get stuck when someone breaks in,” he condemned.
“We carry out inspections at Endesa, We identify, we go with the Civil Guard, the National Police or the Mossos and we disperse, but They returned a short time later and continued the pressure.“The manager of the electricity company was complaining.
Citizen awareness
Ballester assured citizen cooperation is It is very important to detect such installationsbut noted that the question is “who has the guts to do it?”
Pedro Pablo Herraiz is determined to make this happen. awareness campaigns “I will tell the young people”What effects can consumption of this substance have? about them.” consequences of marijuana in adolescents, The expert noted that these can get really serious and completely affect their development.
Herraiz believes the problem “is not solved by criminal intervention alone.” The president of the Ambitos Foundation stated: illegal sale Sometimes it leads people into a spiral where there is “no way out”. He also wanted to send message of encouragement to young people: “There is life after the last joint.”
María del Carmen Ballester emphasized that it is not just about that make the penalties heavier However More support from institutions is needed. Stating that awareness campaigns should be started, he said, “A large part of the revenues National Anti-Drug Plan for prevention“.
Experts decided to highlight the importance of a topic. joint and coordinated action, performed by different people social, economic and political actors combating illegal marijuana farms inside homes and prevent threats to the health and safety of citizens which coexists with this type of cultivation.