The National Police have dismantled Spain’s first laboratory producing a new narcotic substance known as “rosin” in the municipality of Arona in the island of Tenerife. This substance is an ultra-concentrated derivative of cannabis resin that, after undergoing filtration, freezing, and drying, followed by pressing and purification, becomes a highly pure product referred to as rosín or rosín hash.
Police officers detained five individuals, including the primary suspect who was found inside the laboratory cooking the drug, along with those responsible for several cannabis clubs located in the towns of Arona and Adeje in Tenerife.
During searches, authorities seized 1.7 kilograms of rosín, 167 jars of rosín resin, 54 kilograms of marijuana, 145 cannabis plants, and 2 kilograms of hashish. They also confiscated the laboratory machinery and 15,000 euros in cash.
The investigation began after information received through the National Police official email account. Investigators learned of an Italian national allegedly preparing a new illegal substance from a clandestine laboratory located in a basement in Arona. Initial inquiries showed the key suspect, a 29-year-old man, repeatedly entering and leaving the site and regularly visiting various cannabis clubs in Arona and Adeje.
Following several police operations, officers observed that traffic to the clubs intensified when the suspect left, with patrons spending only a few minutes inside before leaving. This pattern led to the conclusion that rosín, a newly created drug, was being sold in those venues, presented in glass jars for sale.
What is rosín?
Rosín is an ultra-concentrated cannabis extract. Through specific filtration, freezing, and drying steps, and after pressing and further purification, it becomes a very pure substance known as rosín or rosín hash. The dismantled laboratory produced the drug using the bubble hash method. To create one kilogram of rosín, about 75 kilograms of cannabis inflorescences were required. The extraction used fresh plant material with ice, avoiding the drying phase and speeding up the process.
Fresh buds were placed with ice and water in a tub, where the trichomes were detached and passed through screens to separate different rosín varieties. After filtering, the material was collected by size and frozen, yielding a paste in various colors depending on the drug quality.
Next, the frozen paste had its water removed with a lyophilizer, producing rosín, a high-quality derivative of cannabis ready for the final step of producing rosín hash, achieved by pressing the previous material. The primary suspect also used a heating device, indicating advanced control of temperatures as this factor greatly influences final purity and quality.
Finally, this substance was stored in glass jars kept cold to preserve its condition and maintain THC levels.
The investigation
In mid October, investigators conducted a sweep that resulted in five arrests and the simultaneous search of three cannabis clubs and the home of the principal suspect. He was found in the basement laboratory, cooking the drug.
As a consequence of the searches, authorities recovered 1.7 kilograms of rosín, 167 jars of rosín resin, 54 kilograms of marijuana, 145 cannabis plants grown in indoor facilities at the suspect’s residence, and two kilograms of hashish. They also seized 15,000 euros in cash and the lab equipment, including a lyophilizer with a vacuum pump, hydraulic presses, a purifying oven, filters, and numerous freezers.
The detainees were brought before judicial authorities, and the main suspect was ordered to remain in provisional prison while the laboratory was fully dismantled.