Guardia Civil Busts Illegal Marijuana Operation Disguised as Candy Sales in Ibiza and Across Spain
The Guardia Civil has successfully dismantled a criminal organization involved in selling marijuana concealed as candy wrappers. This illicit operation spanned sports nutrition establishments, growshops, tobacco outlets, and service stations in Ibiza, Formentera, Mallorca, and other regions of Spain.
Massive Operation Results in Nine Arrests and 147 Under Investigation
Coordinated by the Prosecutor’s Office of Almeria and the Berja Court of First Instance, the operation led to the arrest of nine individuals and the investigation of 147 others. Four searches were conducted in Granada and Valencia, and a total of 244 inspections took place in establishments across 31 Spanish provinces. This marks the first operation of its kind in Spain, according to official sources.
Candy-Like Packaging and Toxicity: A Deceptive Scheme
The criminal organization marketed its products as “organic hemp cultivation,” offering wrappers and jars that imitated candy packaging. Ranging from one gram to 20 grams, these products were priced between 6.50 and 30 euros. Flavors such as vanilla, ice cream, and chewing gum were used to disguise the “extra” flavors of marijuana, which contained an abnormally high THC content and increased toxicity, as revealed by the Guardia Civil.
Ingenious Methods and a Sophisticated Setup
One notable intervention took place in a company located in Granada known as Relash Lab Corporation 420 SL. The facility included a public reception area where visitors could sample approximately twenty different marijuana flavors. On the second floor, a laboratory operated with chemists and professionals ensuring the buds’ thorough cleaning, flavor infusion, and meticulous production records. The operation also included planting areas, an administrative section for online orders, and distribution channels for large-scale customers.
Seizures and the Extent of the Operation
As a result of the operation, the authorities confiscated two tons of marijuana buds, over 100 marijuana plants, 12 kilograms of hashish stash, more than five kilograms of hashish resin, two vehicles, around 20,000 euros in cash, and an additional 51,000 euros frozen in a bank account. Various computer equipment was also seized during the operation.
Origin and Scope of the Operation
The operation was initiated following multiple investigations conducted by the Civil Guard in Almeria after receiving information about the distribution of cannabis-derived psychotropic products disguised as legal substances. The actions taken by the authorities extended beyond Ibiza, Formentera, and Mallorca, covering multiple regions including Andalusia, Asturias, Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Castilla y León, Catalonia, Navarra, Valencia, Galicia, La Rioja, Madrid, Murcia, Basque Country, and Aragón.
