three digits
Known for a vast European footprint, this criminal network anchored its headquarters in Catalonia, Spain, with deliveries crossing borders by van and through what appeared to be legitimate logistics channels. They cultivated cannabis in industrial sites in Catalonia and Asturias and staged large shipments by minibus to the Netherlands, Italy, France and Portugal. The scale and reach elevated them to one of Europe’s most formidable cannabis smuggling operations. A Mossos investigator, Toni Salleras, later described the operation as revealing tactics not seen before in similar cases. A shipment bound for France triggered the police response that unraveled the ring.
El Periódico de España, part of the Prensa Ibérica group, obtained the indictment detailing the trial of 63 people accused of creating one of the largest cannabis networks in the country’s history. Authorities seized around 20,000 cannabis plants, with researchers estimating a potential profit exceeding two million euros. The operation had already moved more than three million euros in products, and the defendants face prison terms ranging from seven to 13 years.
Although the network operated from Spain and stretched across Europe, its organizational model resembled a large commercial enterprise. The Mossos spokesperson described the accused as “real marijuana factories,” highlighting their high-volume operations. Of the 63 defendants, 61 were identified as originating from China, with the group colloquially known as Fujian Bang. Fujian is the eastern Chinese region from which many members hailed.
an abandoned package
The shipment that drew immediate attention was intercepted just as it was about to depart for Paris at a Seur facility in Barcelona. The package appeared ordinary but contained 17.4 kilograms of marijuana. On the same day, another parcel weighing a little over 8 kilograms was seized, en route to Rome. A few days later, 6.3 kilograms of cannabis were stopped, destined for Lisbon, followed by 18.3 kilograms intended for distribution between Romania and the United Kingdom.
On January 14, authorities received a seemingly abandoned package left on a public street in Barcelona. It also weighed 6.3 kilograms and contained marijuana. By January 20, the Mossos d’Esquadra had enough evidence to act. The Manresa Basic Research Unit dismantled a cannabis operation at the Santa Anna Industrial Estate in Sant Fruitós del Bages (Barcelona), uncovering a crop of 858 cannabis plants, 2,800 cuttings prepared for planting, and substantial equipment used in production.
Throughout 2020, authorities conducted multiple seizures of substances and raids on industrial warehouses. While some fields were dismantled, other members took steps to erase traces and reduce risk. On July 23, 2020, after another crop was dismantled in Canovelles (Barcelona), a series of phone calls between the two top bosses discussed the incident and the actions they had authorized. A plan to delete a detainee nicknamed “Konglong” was executed. That same night, the boss convened a meeting at a Chinese restaurant in Santa Coloma de Gramenet to determine the next phase of the operation.
Boss Melon
Following these meetings, the organization underwent changes in leadership and structure. Some figures joined the ranks, others left, and some were promoted to fill vacancies. Melon, previously a logistics coordinator, rose to a position of greater authority. He oversaw cultivation in Catalonia before being reassigned to manage fields in Asturias, eventually taking charge of five separate farms. The organization invested in mobility as a core capability: vehicles, transport passes, and even forged documents were used to sustain operations. In one instance, Melon arranged a NIE through a front and paid 500 euros to complete the process, after which the dummy was instructed to report the document as lost at a police station.
In a tapped conversation, Melon explained to a close associate that he had spoken with a superior and suggested the associate enter the leadership role in the Barcelona area as the current leader prepared to move on. The tax summary describes how the replacement was being groomed, with emphasis on teaching the new leader to handle higher-ranking contacts and maintain authority over subordinates.
The final phase of the crackdown involved coordinated operations by the Mossos d’Esquadra and Spain’s National Police, collaborating with other European agencies including those in France and Portugal. Although at least a dozen members remain at large, a majority have been arrested and face prison terms of up to 13 years. The case illustrates a broader pattern, as Chinese criminal networks continue to attract attention from law enforcement across Spain and Europe.
Recent months have seen additional actions against Chinese cannabis operations in Spain, including arrests in Toledo and Guadalajara, underscoring ongoing vigilance against indoor production tied to sophisticated networks. Cannabis cultivation and trafficking yield rapid financial returns, with indoor crops enabling multiple harvests annually and profits that can reach tens of thousands of euros per cycle. In conversations among ring leaders, forecasts of quarterly gains underscored the high stakes and the lure of the drug trade, even as authorities tighten controls and pursue dismantling efforts across borders.