The Guardia Civil has conducted an investigation into a married couple and their son, who are between the ages of 52 and 21, as the purported leaders of a criminal organisation that is exclusively focused on drug trafficking. The organisation is based at a CBD (cannabidiol) product store in Guardamar del Segura. The establishment has been sealed off, and officers have seized over seven kilos of narcotics and other items.
The investigation commenced in December of last year following the identification of a substantial increase in cannabis use and possession in Guardamar del Segura. The Guardia Civil’s primary station in the town initiated a specific operation in response to the gravity of the situation and to identify the source of these substances.
Agents identified the source of the illicit activity as a business in the municipality that specialised in the sale of cannabidiol (CBD) products during the initial phase. CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that is extracted from the marijuana plant and does not produce any adverse effects. It is permissible to sell it in Spain for its therapeutic properties, provided that the products contain less than 0.2% THC.
A family, consisting of a married couple and their son, was responsible for the establishment. They had established a seemingly legal network to evade the regulatory controls that are pertinent to this type of business.
Clientele
A steady stream of customers entered the store to purchase cannabis buds and resin, which were advertised as natural and legal products. Nevertheless, the deception was twofold: on the one hand, narcotics were being introduced into the regulated commercial circuit, and on the other hand, a false sense of health security was being established among consumers, causing them to believe that they were consuming harmless products.
The Guardia Civil asserts that numerous derivatives contained psychoactive compounds that could influence mental health and alter perception.
The network’s operations were augmented by a digital strategy that focused on videos, advertising campaigns, and social media. This narrative was designed to portray consumption as “safe” and “natural.” This sophisticated marketing strategy generated substantial profits and consolidated the fraud by substantially increasing sales.
An inspection of the premises was conducted on March 16th, following the confirmation of the suspects’ involvement. 128 marijuana-filled cigarettes, 815 grams of cannabis resin, 6.55 kilograms of marijuana buds, and over 500 euros in currency were confiscated during the operation.
Additionally, the operation led to the eradication of 6,815 doses that were intended for public sale from the illicit market. The establishment was precautionarily sealed by the officers as a result of the filing of numerous administrative complaints regarding the absence of a business licence and the absence of the requisite documentation to conduct commercial activity.
The three family members were subsequently investigated by the Guardia Civil for an alleged offence against public health due to drug trafficking and another for membership in a criminal organisation.
A preliminary analysis of the seized substances confirmed the presence of cannabis derivatives and other compounds that are prohibited in Spain due to their dangerous nature, as well as the dangers they can pose to mental health and their psychoactive effects.
The seized items, in addition to the proceedings that were conducted, have been forwarded to the appropriate judicial authority.
