The Guardia Civil apprehended three individuals who were sending dried poppy capsules via mail to Málaga, Ávila, Mallorca, and the United States. They have been charged with alleged crimes against public health related to narcotics trafficking. All three have been remanded into jail. The Guardia Civil apprehended three individuals who were sending dried poppy capsules via the post to Málaga, Ávila, Mallorca, and the United States. They have been charged with alleged crimes against public health related to narcotics trafficking. All three have been remanded into jail.
Royal or opium poppy in postal packages
The operation started with the seizure of four postal parcels containing roughly seven kg of plant-based drugs at Alicante-Elche Airport. The material was identified as Papaver somniferum, popularly known as opium poppy, a plant that is directly associated with the synthesis of opium and its derivatives.
The same surname appeared on all of the shipments, both for the senders and the recipients. Furthermore, all of the items were proved to have been shipped from various addresses in the municipality of Los Alcázares (Murcia).
The inmates were related with recent thefts in Albacete
In the initial phase, investigators examined the intercepted shipments’ documentation and contents before travelling to the municipality of Los Alcázares to identify and find the alleged senders. These investigations resulted in the identification of three men from the same clan, all born in India.
After reviewing police databases, it was discovered that these individuals were reportedly involved to recent robberies of Papaver somniferum in licensed plantations intended for pharmaceutical use in the province of Albacete.
527 kg of Papaver somniferum kept in bags
Three residence searches were conducted in Los Alcázares at the end of January, after the suspects were found and their suspected involvement in the events under investigation was established. As a result, the three suspects were detained, and 527 kilograms of Papaver somniferum, or opium poppies, were seized.
The detainees were turned over to the Court of Instruction of the Judicial District of Elche, which sentenced the three to prison.
The Guardia Civil’s Fiscal and Border Analysis and Investigation Unit, the Organised Crime and Anti-Drug Team in Alicante, and the Civil Guard Company of Torre Pacheco collaborated to carry out the operation, known as “Guru25”.
With this ongoing operation, the Guardia Civil has disrupted a group dedicated to stealing and illegally distributing an extremely dangerous chemical, blocking its sale and increasing the battle against drug trafficking and organised crime.
Other Articles
Torrevieja returns €615,000 plus interest in social aid to the Generalitat
