A clandestine laboratory dedicated to the preparation, transformation, and packaging of narcotic substances, including chocolates and jelly sweets adulterated with drugs, has been dismantled by the Guardia Civil in Orihuela Costa. A 24-year-old man and a 26-year-old woman have been arrested as those allegedly responsible for the operation.
The investigation, named “Operation Bobinali”, began at the end of March when the Local Risk Analysis Unit of the Fiscal and Border Service of the Guardia Civil at Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport intercepted a suspicious shipment. The package had been sent from the Mexican city of Tijuana and was destined for the province of Alicante. Although declared as computer equipment, officers discovered 2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine hidden inside a network cable reel.
The officers arranged a controlled delivery of the package, with the Organised Crime and Anti-Drugs Squad of the Alicante Command taking over the monitoring. Initial enquiries revealed that the recipient details on the package were entirely false.
However, subsequent analysis of the evidence allowed officers to identify the real recipients. This led them to a man and a woman living in Orihuela Costa, who had been using various false identities to receive numerous packages sent from several different countries.
Following these investigations, officers located and searched the property in Orihuela Costa. Inside the residence, they seized hand-crafted chocolates and jelly sweets which preliminary field tests indicated had been adulterated with narcotic substances. They also discovered the hashish, hashish oil, hallucinogenic mushrooms, and amphetamine-based medicines used in their preparation.
In total, 29 kilograms of substances awaiting further analysis were seized, alongside various chemical precursors, moulds, packaging material, cash, mobile phones, and computer equipment.
During the search, officers also uncovered a dedicated setup for cultivating hallucinogenic mushrooms, complete with numerous boxes in different stages of growth and substrates prepared for future production.
This operation highlights two growing trends that have alarmed authorities: the sale of sweets adulterated with psychoactive substances, which has been banned in Spain since 2025, and the involvement of Mexican criminal organisations smuggling methamphetamine into Europe.
The arrested pair have been charged with an offence against public health for drug trafficking. They were brought before the Investigating Section of the Court of First Instance in Orihuela, on duty at the time, which ordered their remand in provisional prison. The investigation remains open, and further actions have not been ruled out.
