Spain - June 11, 2024

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Spanish law enforcement, under Operation LUMBRE, has dismantled a criminal organization engaged in international marijuana trafficking. The operation, spanning provinces including Almeria, Malaga, Toledo, and Zaragoza, resulted in the arrest of 28 individuals and the investigation of two others on charges of belonging to a criminal organization, drug trafficking, and electricity theft.

Initiated in mid-2023 following several drug-related operations, the investigation uncovered ties among individuals with prior records in European countries. The organization amassed large quantities of marijuana from cultivators in Almeria and Toledo, then packaged and stored it in vacuum-sealed containers on a property in southern Madrid.

A coordinated effort involving simultaneous raids on transport trucks en route to European countries intercepted communication among organization members. In one instance, a truck inspection in Zaragoza revealed a hidden compartment containing over a hundred kilograms of marijuana, leading to the arrest of 11 individuals.

Subsequent phases of the operation targeted individuals responsible for marijuana cultivation and distribution, resulting in the arrest of 17 more individuals and the investigation of two others. Raids in Almeria and Toledo uncovered nine indoor marijuana cultivation sites with approximately 1,500 plants.

The operation, led by the Organized Crime and Drug Unit of the Almeria Command, was overseen by Almeria Court No. 3 and the Special Antidrug Prosecutor's Office.