The Mossos d'Esquadra have dismantled in Lleida an alleged criminal group dedicated to the trafficking of marijuana and weapons in an operation that resulted in twelve detainees aged between 25 and 73. The arrests were carried out in Lleida, Cambrils, Sabadell and Vilanova i la Geltrú, and the investigated individuals were brought before the court on Thursday, April 23.
The detainees are attributed, pending the progress of the case, crimes of belonging to a criminal group, against public health, electricity fraud, and illegal possession and trafficking of weapons.
Tickets in Lleida and Seròs
The police operation was carried out on Tuesday, April 21. The Mossos carried out six entries into properties and warehouses in Lleida and one more in a dwelling in Seròs, in the Segrià. The investigation pointed to an organization with an operational base in the Lleida capital and with the capacity to extend its activity to other parts of Catalonia.
In the searches, the police seized 1,300 marijuana plants, in addition to 5,100 euros in cash. They also located 15 pneumatic weapons, a short .22 caliber firearm, ammunition, and a Civil War grenade that had no explosive charge.
Hierarchical structure
The organization, always under judicial investigation, presented a defined internal structure. According to the evidence gathered, it had a leadership responsible for strategic decisions, a logistics team, and people dedicated to the maintenance of the plantations, who acted as gardeners.
The investigators also detected fraudulent connections to the electrical grid in the warehouses where the crops were located. That irregular supply would be part of the infrastructure used to maintain marijuana production.
With this action, the Mossos consider the investigated network dismantled, while the judicial procedure remains open to determine the scope of the responsibilities of each of those arrested.