The Mossos d’Esquadra tie one of the suspects in the Pol murder case in Les Borges Blanques not only to the indoor marijuana cultiation hidden inside the home where the crime occurred, but also to the death and disappearance of the young man. According to the case file accessed by El Periódico de Catalunya, the law enforcement team has established a link to an Italian drug trafficking network by associating the suspect with a drug clan from Italy. Albert B., who had been sought by the police for eight months and turned himself in at a police station, was placed in detention on June 25, 2022. He was later granted conditional release, but when jailed an indicia-based charge of homicide and a drug trafficking offence was attributed to him.
During the investigation, on December 22, 2021, months after Pol’s disappearance, the Mossos searched Albert B.’s residence in Barcelona. The police report notes that documents found in that home could be connected to the indoor cannabis cultivation operation in which Albert B. and another partner were alleged to have invested 35,000 euros each, with an estimated net annual profit of 55,000 euros. The material also outlined a business network and various options concerning real estate titles and state-owned entities in Andorra. The authorities indicate that the aim of this structure was to launder the money earned from the cannabis operation and to locate additional properties suitable for other plantations.
- Authorities traced Albert B. to Giulia C., an Italian detainee arrested in April 2021 at the Franco-Spanish border with 18 kilos of marijuana and seven kilos of cannabis resin. The drugs were concealed inside a vehicle owned by Albert B.’s mother. Giulia C. is said to be connected to the Italian suspects Steven C. and his brother Adam, both with extensive drug trafficking records. The two brothers may correspond to the “Steven and Adam” named in the reviewed documents.
Investigators noted travel records indicating that Albert B. had made several trips to Italy. The Mossos contend that these journeys could have involved arranging or conducting business to introduce large quantities of marijuana into Italy. They also observed that Albert B. did not appear to hold a widely recognized job at that time and maintained a lifestyle that family members described as lavish, a conclusion supported by data on the luxury car rentals and designer clothing found during the home search. He typically paid in cash. Police do not rule out his participation in an international drug distribution network.
Records show hints linking Albert B. to the cannabis operation Pol watched. In a vehicle used by him, investigators recovered a key set that matched the house in Les Borges Blanques. Moreover, the Mossos highlight two pieces of evidence that could connect him to Pol’s murder: the mobile phone activity of Albert B. was turned off during the window when Pol’s phone moved from Les Borges Blanques to Castelldans, where the last signal was recorded; and on that same day a former partner identified Pol’s car near the Lleida College of Agronomy, with blood traces matching Pol’s. These observations have been included in the case records as potential indicators of involvement in the crime.
Italy trips and the drug business
The investigation notes that Albert B. traveled to Italy on multiple occasions. The authorities believe these trips might have been aimed at facilitating the transfer and distribution of substantial quantities of marijuana across borders. The police also document that Albert B. maintained a lifestyle that did not align with an ordinary income, a contrast confirmed by housing and vehicle records, as well as cash payments for purchases. The possibility of involvement in a broader international drug network is a recurring theme in the testimonies gathered by the agents.
In several statements, officers emphasize the potential link between Albert B. and the cannabis plantation policed near the victim, including a vehicle used by him that had keys tied to the targeted residence. The narrative in the atestados highlights the timing and locations associated with Pol’s final movements, and the photographic evidence captured near the agricultural faculty in Lleida, where the victim’s car appeared with traces that investigators say match the deceased’s belongings. The overall picture suggests a carefully coordinated operation that extended beyond a single region, potentially tying local events to international drug flows.
As the case unfolds, authorities continue to scrutinize the connections between the alleged network, the finances behind the indoor cultivation, and the disruptions caused by Pol’s death. The evolving timeline and the cross-border elements underscore the importance of a coordinated judicial response that can address both the local criminal activity and its wider implications in the European drug trafficking landscape. The public and families affected by the events await further discoveries that could clarify Albert B.’s precise role and the broader conspiracy involved in the case. The investigation remains ongoing to verify the links and to map the full extent of the illicit operation, with the aim of delivering accountability for those implicated and ensuring justice for Pol.
Please note: this article reflects ongoing reporting and is subject to updates as new information becomes available. Attribution: El Periódico de Catalunya for the original reporting and court documents referenced in the case files.