Spanish Civil Guard arrest 35 people and nearly 17,000 marijuana plants seized in a massive drug trafficking operation

The Spanish Civil Guard, as part of Operation Nazarí 64 Falla, has arrested 35 individuals belonging to a major international criminal organization dedicated to marijuana trafficking operating in the province of Granada. Those arrested are charged with crimes against public health for drug trafficking, drug cultivation and production, electricity fraud, membership in a criminal group, illegal weapons possession, and money laundering.

A total of 54 house searches were carried out in the provinces of Granada, Malaga, and Valencia. 16,870 marijuana plants, 267,553 euros, 21 vehicles, 15 kilos of marijuana buds, 200 grams of hashish, 12 shotguns, four handguns, four air rifles, one bow, one crossbow, one taser, three knives, and ammunition of various calibers were seized. Approximately four million euros in cash, personal and real property were also seized.

The operation began last May following four operations carried out by the Civil Guard against drug trafficking at various locations in the province of Granada and at French customs, where a total of 531 kilograms of marijuana concealed in vehicles during transport were seized. Six people were arrested during these operations.

As a result of these actions, the agents were able to confirm the existence of a network in which each member had a specific role within the criminal organization. The leaders of the organization, who had their operations center between Granada and Vegas del Genil, were responsible for purchasing drugs from producers and packaging them for delivery to another part of the organization that was responsible for distribution throughout Europe.

Finally, there were those who facilitated the transportation of marijuana abroad, which was carried out mainly in trucks or hidden in cars.

The searches were carried out in Granada in the towns of Ácula, Albuñán, Atarfe, Cenes de la Vega, Churriana de la Vega, Cogollos de Guadix, Cúllar Vega, Fuentes Vaqueros, Las Gabias, Granada, Huétor Vega, Jun, Maracena, Peligros, Pinos Puente, Pulianillas, Santa Fe, Ventas de Huelma, Vegas del Genil, and Villa de Otura; in the province of Málaga, the searches were carried out in Málaga city, Benalmádena, and Vélez-Málaga; and in Valencia, they were carried out in the towns of Silla and Albal.

The operation was carried out by officers from the Organized Crime and Anti-Drug Team of the Organic Judicial Police Unit of the Civil Guard of Granada, with the support of the Reserve and Security Group (GRS), the Rapid Action Group (GAR), USECIC from different provinces of the Autonomous Community of Andalusia, the Canine Service, the Air Unit, the PEGASO team, the Organic Judicial Police Unit and Citizen Security units, and coordinated by the Investigative Court of Santa Fe (Granada).