A joint operation conducted by Mossos d’Esquadra, the Civil Guard and the National Police led to the disruption of four marijuana plantations in the municipalities of Barcelona, Mataró and Pineda de Mar on 5 July. The action resulted in the seizure of about 5.5 tons of cannabis and the arrest of six people linked to drug production and distribution.
The operation represents the second phase of an ongoing investigation that began in March 2021. In June, authorities carried out the first major police action that allowed the interception of a substantial amount of cannabis in Spain, as reported by Mossos this Friday.
Across the two stages of the operation, nearly 12 tons of cannabis were seized and 11 individuals connected to the production and distribution network were detained.
umbrella the alleged plantations legal hemp
The criminal organization in question allegedly operated a network of legal cannabis fields to grow, harvest and distribute cannabis without the necessary administrative permits.
They reportedly used other legally registered industrial ventures to camouflage their activity, along with two commercially established companies to give their illicit operations the appearance of greater legality.
Following the identification of those responsible for the plantations, authorities requested authorization to search four industrial sites, three in Mataró and one in Pineda de Mar.
5.5 tons of cannabis
Police teams recovered approximately 5.5 tons of cannabis along with 850 kilos of cannabis buds vacuum-sealed in numerous heat-treated bags ready for distribution.
Investigators also seized a total of 126 kilos of shredded cannabis, 39,098 cannabis plants, 5,151 kilos of fresh weight, 33 kilos of marijuana and 300 grams of cannabis pollen.
Vessels used for cannabis processing, production of cannabis tablets and marijuana pollen were intercepted as part of the operation. Cannabis pollen refers to the resin released by the plant after sieving, a substance with a higher THC concentration than standard cannabis resin.
great expertise
The facilities revealed a high degree of specialization in indoor cultivation, with substantial investments in equipment to optimize cannabis production.
In total, authorities intervened 2,000 grow lights, 253 fans, 97 transformers, 32 humidifiers, 16 air conditioning units, 4 harvesters, 2 bud packaging machines, and 7 storage tanks of 1,000 liters each, along with presses, generators, thermostats, extractors and centrifuges among other devices.