The Civil Guard dismantles a dangerous criminal organization specialized in the cultivation and genetic modification of marijuana
In the operation 13 people have been arrested and another 2 have been investigated and 11 house searches have been carried out involving 3000 marijuana plants, 11 high-end vehicles (5 stolen in the United Kingdom), numerous electronic equipment (beacons and detectors GPS, frequency inhibitors, etc.) and 3 guns with silencers
The organization, based in the province of Alicante, moved the drug to countries in Europe (United Kingdom, Holland, France and Poland)
The Civil Guard, within the framework of the “Extinde” operation, has arrested 13 people and investigated another 2, belonging to a criminal organization, dedicated to illegal traffic, internationally, both high-end vehicles as the cultivation and genetic modification of marijuana and then transfer it to countries in Europe (United Kingdom, Holland, France and Poland). There have been 11 home searches involving 3000 marijuana plants, 11 high-end vehicles (5 stolen in the United Kingdom), numerous electronic equipment and 3 guns with silencers
Complex operation developed in three phases: first phase
The investigation began last October, when the Civil Guard detected several citizens of Polish nationality who were acquiring significant amounts of marijuana. For this reason, the track of these people was followed by initiating an exchange of information with the Polish Police, being able to verify that these people had numerous police records in their country for similar events, most of them being admitted to Polish prisons. Likewise, it was found that some of these people presented arrest warrants, both national and international, others were former military officers of the Polish army and others even had bans on entry into football stadiums in that country.
Continuing with the investigations, the agents located in the towns of Picassent and in Calpe (Valencia), several of these investigators who were using different high-end vehicles and diverse material to perform "rollovers", that is, to assault other organizations criminals Thanks to this new information, it was possible to identify and locate the leader of the organization, who was traveling with a high-end vehicle that was recorded as stolen the previous month in Manchester (United Kingdom).
In parallel, the agents discovered that the organization was renting luxury homes and that these homes were used to house indoor marijuana crops.
Second phase: Sophisticated experimental marijuana laboratory
In the second phase of the operation, the first household records were made; one in Alicante, another in Muchamiel and another in an industrial warehouse in Elche, in which a complete experimental laboratory was discovered and intervened, for the study, analysis and improvement of various kinds and species of marijuana. The laboratory was composed of powerful loupes, numerous meters to monitor the development of THC of the different strains analyzed, as well as a plantation of 140 marijuana plants, which they used to study and obtain the desired marijuana species. There was also 1 kg of marijuana buds and small amounts of hashish and cocaine.
Likewise, the logistics center of the organization was discovered, intervening material for the future assembly of another twenty indoor plantations (hundreds of electrical transformers, halogen lamps, filters, ventilation systems, water pump systems and temperature control), all valued at more than 100,000 euros. It should be noted that the ship was heavily guarded by the members of the organization, who had three real firearms (guns), with ammunition and silencers, ready for immediate use, if necessary.
In the registry of the address of Muchamiel, in which the head of the organization resided, the agents intervened a complete laboratory, for the processing of hash oil (extracted from marijuana), oil that was finally sent by postal parcel, to any place of the world, previous order through the web page of the organization. There were also 100 hashish oil pipettes, arranged for distribution, 1 kg of hashish pollen and 1 kg of marijuana buds, as well as various latest generation computer equipment.
A day later, five other home searches were carried out, in the towns of Aguas de Busot, Arenales del Sol, two in Gran Alacant (Santa Pola) and one last in the Coveta Fumá of El Campello. In total, three other indoor marijuana plantations were apprehended, comprising some 500 plants, as well as 40 ecstasy pills, 100 grams of marijuana buds and 15,000 euros in cash. In addition, in one of the two records of Gran Alacant, one of the detainees carried documentation on behalf of his brother, posing as him, since he had a European arrest warrant and extradition to his country, Poland, for trafficking in drugs
Third and last phase: two leading hydroponic crops
In the third phase, they carried out another 3 home searches, one in a luxurious estate of El Pilar de la Horadada and the other two in two mansions of San Vicente del Raspeig, being intervened, in these last two, two huge indoor hydroponic crops , equipped with the latest technology, with more than 2000 adult marijuana plants.
These state-of-the-art systems allow to accelerate crops with mineral solutions, instead of agricultural land, so that, throughout the year, they can achieve up to four different crops, the benefits being millionaires. In the case of the organization investigated, they themselves created several types of marijuana, through experimentation with new strains, hybrids, created from other "mother" strains of cannabis, in order to modify certain effects or attributes.
Structure and operation of the organization
The organization was structured in a complex network, divided in turn, into several cells that were established in different locations in the province of Alicante and used goods transport by road, for the distribution of marijuana.
The leader of the organization directed all the cells from Muchamiel and La Coveta Fumá, localities where most of the members of the criminal group resided.
The organization sent, by postal parcel, the hashish oil pipettes and, by transport of goods by road, hidden between fruits, beverages or food products, they moved the packages of marijuana grown in their housing network, for final distribution in the Kingdom United, Holland, Belgium, France and Poland.
Thanks to the investigation, it has been possible to find out that the drug was offered, to a large extent, on the Internet, and that they not only produced their own drug, but also subtracted it from other rival gangs, subsequently carrying out the "rollovers" .
The organization, with military training, was highly specialized, since they used advanced technical means to subject surveillance and follow-up to their objectives, rival bands also dedicated to the cultivation and distribution of marijuana, thus knowing their movements at all times and performing, finally, assaults with great violence on the houses in which they had found out the existence of drugs, through the use of stolen vehicles, firearms and masks of different fictional characters.
Balance of the "Extinde" operation
Of the 11 domiciliary registries practiced in the different phases, a total of:
- 11 vehicles (9 high-end) and 1 motorcycle (5 of them were listed as stolen in the United Kingdom, during the months of October and November 2019).
- 3 guns, real fire, 7.63 mm caliber, all ready for immediate use and with their respective silencers and ammunition.
- Surveillance equipment, to carry out drug rips to rival gangs, such as GPS beacons, GPS detectors, frequency inhibitors, telescopic cameras, spies and hidden, laser lasers, metal detectors, walkie talkies, as well as costume and concealment , like gloves, masks, balaclava.
- 3000 marijuana plants spread over 7 state-of-the-art indoor plantations, 1 kg of hashish pollen, 3 kg of marijuana buds, 100 Hashish oil pipettes, 1 complete laboratory for the creation, analysis and experimental study of different types of marijuana , 1 complete laboratory for the extraction of marijuana from hash oil, for its liquid distribution.
- 1 industrial building with numerous effects for the installation, assembly and preparation of more indoor plantations in other future homes, effects valued at more than 300,000 euros and 18,000 euros in cash and various counterfeit personal documents and folded license plates
The operation has been carried out by agents of the Research Areas of the Civil Guard of San Juan de Alicante and San Vicente del Raspeig, in collaboration with Europol and agents of the UDYCO of the National Police of Alicante. It has been directed by the Court of Instruction number 3 of Alicante
