The Civil Guard carried out eleven arrests in connection with the killing of a security guard at a cannabis plantation in Pleitas, Saragossa. The victim died after being shot in the field, a location where the assailants had planned to enter to steal valuable cannabis.
The investigation, conducted in two phases beginning in October 2021, began when a resident discovered a body inside a vehicle in a field near a residential area adjacent to an industrial cannabis plantation in Pleitas, Zaragoza. The discovery prompted authorities to launch a broader inquiry into the case.
Authorities determined that on the night of the incident several individuals were transported to the plantation in two vehicles with the aim of removing dried cannabis that held significant value. The operation unfolded under tense conditions, as suspects were observed moving about the vicinity and abandoning tools and other belongings in the area before retreating to a safer distance.
When the suspects returned to collect their items, one van was found to be immobilized, and some cell phones were missing. In an attempt to protect evidence and avoid attracting further attention, the perpetrators switched to a second vehicle and proceeded to a storage area on the premises.
The security guard intercepted the group and alerted the installer via a mobile message. At that moment, the victim was shot while still inside the vehicle. The vehicle was later found the following morning by a local resident who happened to be cycling through the area, confirming the fatal outcome of the confrontation.
In the ensuing stages of the investigation, the suspects ordered their accomplices to relocate to Pleitas to aid in concealing their tracks and securing a safe escape. The individuals who owned the two used cars later attempted to distance themselves from the murder, arguing that the vehicles had been stolen and denying any direct involvement in the crime.
One van was recovered at the site of the incident, while the second vehicle appeared the following day, reportedly left in its town after being burned and stripped of identifying features. The Civil Guard seized multiple items in connection with the case, including several mobile phones, a police shield, a katana, and a vehicle believed to have been used in the crime. Investigators also recovered cash and drugs in the homes of the main suspects, all located in Zaragoza.
The operation was directed by the Organic Unit of the Civil Guard Judicial Police in Zaragoza. It involved personnel from the Reserve and Security Group 5 based in Casetas, the Zaragoza Criminalistics Laboratory, the Madrid Cinological Service with search dogs, as well as agents from the Command’s Citizen Security Unit USECIC and the Tarazona Civil Guard regional company. The combined effort integrated specialized capabilities to document, collect, and preserve evidence, support interviews, and pursue the prosecution of those responsible for the homicide and the related criminal activity.