The neighbors' sense of smell helps dismantle a network dedicated to clandestine marijuana cultivation in Alicante

They had installed a photovoltaic infrastructure with solar panels to avoid alerting the electric company about the high energy consumption needed for the cultivation of 'maría', with which they supplied a cannabis association in Alicante, owned by one of the gang members. Their efforts to avoid being discovered were in vain and they could not evade either the neighbors' sense of smell or Justice.

The Civil Guard, within the framework of 'Operation Vialo', has arrested the four alleged members of the network dedicated to clandestine marijuana cultivation, two men and two women of Ukrainian and Russian nationalities between 37 and 44 years old. With their arrest, the Benemérita has ended the criminal organization.

During searches in houses in Santa Pola and San Vicente, investigators found, in addition to various narcotic substances, a laboratory for making hashish resin and two hidden bunkers prepared to hide the drugs and related cultivation and preparation materials.

The events investigated by the San Vicente del Raspeig Main Post Investigation Area began earlier this year, following complaints from residents of an urbanization about a strong smell of marijuana emanating from one of the plots in this municipality. To verify the facts, agents started the operation.

In an initial phase of the operation, agents identified people accessing the plot in question, linking one of them as the owner of a cannabis association in Alicante. As investigations progressed, it was confirmed that the plot supplied marijuana and its derivatives both to this association and to clients clandestinely.

On September 18th, after confirming that the criminal group consisted of two couples, two men and two women of Ukrainian and Russian nationalities between 37 and 44 years old, they proceeded with the operation's exploitation.

The agents, with support from personnel from the San Vicente del Raspeig Company, carried out two home searches: one on a plot in San Vicente and another in a house in Santa Pola. They also inspected the headquarters of the cannabis association in Alicante.

During the searches, they seized 16 kilograms of buds from 12 varieties of marijuana, 50 marijuana cigarettes, 500 milliliters of hashish resin, 40 grams of hashish pollen, 12 liters of cannabis alcohol (known as mother tincture of cannabis), chocolates made with various drugs, and 5 motor vehicles.

To hide their illicit activity, those arrested had installed a photovoltaic infrastructure with solar panels, thus avoiding alerting the electric company about the high energy consumption needed for cultivation. They also found a laboratory for making hashish resin as well as two hidden bunkers prepared to hide drugs and related cultivation and preparation materials.

The four suspects were arrested and charged with crimes against public health for drug cultivation and trafficking, as well as belonging to a criminal organization. Additionally, judicial authorities ordered the precautionary closure of the cannabis association's establishment.

The Court of First Instance and Instruction of San Vicente del Raspeig has ordered preventive detention for both men and one woman.