In a scene that could be lifted from a Breaking Bad episode, a hidden laboratory was located in the basement of a residence in Teulada, Alicante, where designer drugs were manufactured.
National Police dismantled a concealed facility used for producing controlled substances and detained ten members of the organization who stood accused of running the operation, handling production and distribution on medium to large scale across the Levante region.
The investigation began last May when investigators identified a criminal network based in the Levante area focused on drug distribution. They learned that production occurred in a hidden lab within a home, prompting a two‑phase inquiry.
Butane Cylinder Used to Hide the Drugs
In the first phase, authorities traced seven individuals linked to the network and set up surveillance to map connections with other networks, locate their homes, and pinpoint storage sites for the substances trafficked.
During one surveillance operation, investigators uncovered a concealment method: a manipulated butane cylinder used to move drugs between locations. The cylinder was transported from the main suspect’s residence to another site by one of the detainees in a vehicle.
Regarding the suspects’ profiles, authorities noted strict security measures during travel between sites, with driving maneuvers aimed at spotting a possible police follow. It was observed that some suspects carried out counter‑surveillance around the principal suspect’s home to detect police presence. The security measures required cooperation from National Police officers from other provinces to avoid detection during patrols.
During the investigation, there was sufficient evidence to initiate the exploitation phase of the first part of the operation, leading to the arrest of seven individuals and, after searches of four residences, seizures of various drugs including cocaine, pink cocaine known as “tusi,” crystal meth and other substances, as well as 35,135 euros in cash.
A Hidden Laboratory and an Industrial Press
After this initial phase, investigators located the site where the drugs were produced and later distributed, housed in a residence in Teulada, allegedly run by a Belgian national who was also under investigation, together with a Spanish national based in Benidorm.
To prevent suspects from evading capture, agents intercepted and detained one individual as he was preparing to leave his home with his wife, and another man was stopped in his vehicle.
The police hypothesis about a hidden lab was confirmed during the search of the Teulada residence. They uncovered a hidden room behind a double wall in the basement where the laboratory dedicated to producing designer drugs, including speed, crystal and ecstasy, was located.
Among the tools found in the clandestine lab during the search were a hydraulic press and an industrial vacuum sealer, which completed the processing of the drugs.
Additionally, the laboratory housed a wide range of precision equipment designed for the production of designer drugs, including large quantities of chemicals and precursors, as well as devices modified as concealment stashes to hide narcotics and avoid detection, smaller in size but still significant next to the earlier butane cylinder discovery.
Regarding the substances seized across the two phases of the operation, authorities confiscated various drugs: 358 grams of tusi (MDMA), 223.78 grams of cocaine, 294 grams of crystal meth, 5.85 grams of speed, 35.75 grams of methamphetamine, 3,199 grams of cannabis, and 229 grams of hashish.
Investigators also recovered 24 kilograms of a white powder and other chemical products necessary for producing designer drugs. Those arrested are suspected of offenses against public health and membership in a criminal organization.