Two law enforcement teams, the National Police and the Elche Local Police, were involved in a criminal case that unfolded near a rural property. The affair began when investigators acted on information suggesting illegal activity linked to a field used for cannabis cultivation. The authorities received a tip regarding a potential explosion, but upon arrival they found no signs of such an incident. Instead, a different scene emerged: a large indoor cannabis operation and several related items were discovered in a nearby warehouse. The arrest included a man who now faces charges connected with drug distribution. Two women living at the same residence were also detained on related suspicions of involvement in drug production and aiding the primary suspect. All three detainees were brought before the Elche court to answer for their alleged offenses. (attribution: National Police)
The events took place at dawn on a day in late July. The operation was coordinated by the National Police’s Citizen Security Brigade and the Operations Support Group of the Elche Local Police. They visited a country house located in the rural area of Saladas after a call to the emergency number 112 from a concerned neighbor. The caller reported intense nervousness and claimed that unknown individuals had tried to target him. He described climbing the fence that separated the properties and reported hearing sounds that suggested gunfire, though no projectile impact could be verified at the scene. (attribution: National Police)
Officers interviewed the initial caller and began a broader search for the alleged victim. A short time later, an Elche Local Police patrol located the man wandering along the highway. He appeared disoriented, barefoot, and with obvious signs of intoxication. He explained to the officers that he had been the target of an attempted robbery and that the alleged perpetrators were seeking to steal a cannabis crop on the property. (attribution: National Police)
Wandering on the highway
With the situation clarified, the two police forces proceeded to a thorough inspection of the home and surrounding buildings to verify what had occurred. Judicial Police and the Scientific Police units from the Elche station conducted the investigation with the appropriate authority. The search failed to uncover any evidence of an explosion or an attempted break-in. What they did find was a growing operation concealed inside a warehouse adjacent to the house. The indoor cultivation involved more than 600 cannabis plants that had not yet been harvested. In addition, about 200 grams of marijuana and cannabis residues were found in bags prepared for distribution. (attribution: National Police)
A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of crimes against public health related to drug trafficking. In addition, two women aged 38 and 20 who resided at the same address were detained on similar charges involving cannabis cultivation and aiding the illicit enterprise. The detainees appeared before the Elche sentry court for processing. (attribution: National Police)