Authorities foil a large explosive workshop in Spain during a nationwide operation
An operation led by the Civil Guard resulted in the arrest of a single suspect and the seizure of a substantial amount of explosive material and related equipment. The operation, conducted in Barcelona, targeted a remote farmhouse in Montmajor, a municipality within Barcelona’s Bages district, where the suspect had established a hidden laboratory. The authorities describe this as among the largest recoveries of its kind in recent years in the country.
Law enforcement encountered 468 kilograms of explosive material at the premises, alongside chemical products used in the preparation of explosive compounds, fuses, and electrical components. In addition, approximately 2.2 kilograms of an explosive mixture suitable for triggering devices were recovered. The scale of the seizure underscores the potential for serious harm if such precursors and devices were to be misused or diverted for illicit purposes.
The investigation, labeled under the codename “Conditions,” began roughly a year ago when Civil Guard information channels, including the Information Headquarters and the Center for Counterterrorism and Organized Crime (CITCO), identified a possible illegal transaction involving explosive precursors conducted via an online commerce platform. The ensuing inquiry led agents to a 41-year-old man residing in Montmajor who was responsible for receiving large quantities of precursors, fuses, electrical gear, and a wide array of laboratory supplies used for illicit production.
Explosive intermediates are chemicals kept in precise concentrations and blended in specific ways to form dangerous compounds. The Civil Guard notes that the uncontrolled trade, possession, and use of these materials pose significant risks, including the potential diversion to illegal, violent, or terrorist activities. The authorities emphasize that finished explosive mixtures, as well as intermediates and other chemical products, require careful handling and tightly regulated controls to prevent misuse.
As part of the operation, specialized units were involved in documenting and securing the workshop’s contents. The team included the TEDAX unit, the Technical and Expert Division for Explosives Disposal, which confirmed the dangerousness of the materials found and coordinated the safe disposal of any residual explosive devices. The on-site search also uncovered a range of laboratory tools: glass flasks and test tubes of varying capacities, electric heating mantles, magnetic stirrers, vacuum pumps, flow controllers, distillation apparatus, and other equipment used to concentrate chemical compounds. Thermometers and precise balances were present, along with a gas mask designed to shield wearers from hazardous chemical vapors. The collection of materials indicated that the space could support the manufacture of explosive substances, including gunpowder or triacetone triperoxide, widely known for its use in terrorist acts and its profound danger.
Officials highlight that the discovery represents one of the Civil Guard’s most significant seizures in the region, following other notable cases such as those in Miranda de Ebro (Burgos) in 2019 and Castilleja de la Cuesta (Seville) in 2021, where hidden workshops were dismantled and firearms were transported. The current case reinforces ongoing concerns about illicit production facilities and the potential for harm if explosive precursors are mishandled or diverted to criminal networks. The investigation continues as authorities assess the full scope of the operation and the individuals involved, with a view toward preventing any future risk to public safety. [Civil Guard report attribution]