Following an anonymous tip, Civil Guard units and the local police from Relleu acted quickly to dismantle a cannabis cultivation operation located in a rural area of the municipality. Two individuals, a 35-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman, both Dutch nationals with no prior criminal records, were brought before the courts in La Vila Joiosa and released with precautionary measures while investigations continue. A substantial seizure was made when authorities removed 710 marijuana plants and 3,200 grams of processed cannabis prepared for sale. The operation underscores ongoing efforts to curb illegal drug production and distribution within the region. [Source: Civil Guard]
Citizen cooperation proved pivotal in this case. An anonymous tip received last October alerted authorities to the possible cannabis plantation in Relleu. After a careful review of the information and documents obtained, the agents from the Finestrat Civil Guard Station launched the operation known as “Pityama” with the collaboration of the Relleu Local Police. The joint action led to the discovery of a functioning cultivation site in a rural zone of the municipality. [Source: Civil Guard]
Arrests
A couple renting the property was identified as the people responsible for the illegal cultivation. An entry and inspection operation took place on 23 October with the support of the Altea Main Police Station. Both suspects were detained on charges related to crimes against public health, specifically for cultivating and processing cannabis. The arrest highlights the cross-agency coordination that often proves essential in disrupting drug networks at the local level. [Source: Civil Guard]
Two individuals linked to the plantation were located at the site. In addition to the cannabis and the cultivation equipment, investigators recovered mobile phones, laptops, and notebooks containing notes that could aid further inquiries into the operation and its connections. These items are being examined as part of the broader inquiry into distribution channels and possible links to other regions. [Source: Civil Guard]
During the course of the search, 710 marijuana plants and 3,200 grams of cannabis ready for distribution were confiscated. The seizure also included various devices and records that may shed light on the scale of the operation and its potential reach. This action is integral to a wider national effort, known as Operation Miller, which is part of a Police Response Plan aimed at disrupting illegal cannabis cultivation and trafficking and reducing the threat of cross-border distribution to other European countries. [Source: Civil Guard]