A major operation by the Civil Guard in Cabanillas del Campo, in Guadalajara, resulted in the arrest of three individuals tied to a large indoor cannabis cultivation network. Investigators report a tunnel about 15 meters long was constructed to connect a discreet marijuana growing setup to the local power grid, allowing electricity to flow with minimal chance of immediate detection.
The detainees are identified as Chinese nationals, aged 40 to 57. The arrests were carried out by the Guadalajara Civil Guard Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Team, referred to locally as Operation Chincras, according to official statements from the Civil Guard.
For several months, officers surveilled activity in the Cabanillas del Campo industrial zone, initially appearing to be routine food export operations. In reality, the site concealed a hidden operation that included a ground-floor kitchen inside a warehouse complex. The space had been repurposed to store large quantities of food and hygiene products, kept in refrigeration units and freezers, arranged to sustain a sizable number of people for months without outdoor movement.
The ship tied to the scheme had been rented only briefly and showed no legitimate commercial activity. Nevertheless, authorities observed several individuals of Chinese descent actively unloading substantial shipments of drywall and other materials that investigators believe supported the cannabis cultivation effort.
A Wednesday search, conducted with court authorization, uncovered and seized what authorities characterized as one of the largest indoor cannabis operations identified in Guadalajara in recent years. The operation also led to the dismantling of the infrastructure connected to the plantation.
During the inquiry, officers from the Command’s Citizen Security Unit discovered a concealed entry—a tunnel around 15 meters long—that had been built to illegally draw electricity for the cultivation complex. The tunnel linked the plantation to the power supply, enabling the illicit operation to run with reduced risk of detection.
Law enforcement seized more than 9,000 cannabis plants along with materials valued at around 100,000 euros used to establish and run the nursery. In addition, investigators recovered approximately 36,000 euros in cash.
The investigation remains active, and authorities indicated that additional arrests could follow as the case unfolds and more evidence is evaluated. This development underscores the ongoing commitment to disrupting large-scale, covert drug operations and dismantling the networks that support them. The public safety authorities emphasized that further updates will be provided as new information becomes available and legal processes proceed. [Citation: Civil Guard announcements, ongoing case updates]