Joint operation of the Tax Agency and the National Police

• Two marijuana plantations with more than 500 plants were seized and two people were arrested
• Technicians from the affected electricity company collaborated in the investigation, since the homes were illegally connected to the electricity supply.

October 17, 2022.- The Customs Surveillance Service of the Tax Agency in Castellón and the National Police of Castellón have carried out a joint operation against networks dedicated to the illegal cultivation of marijuana. Investigations began after learning of a possible indoor marijuana cultivation in an occupied home where the regular presence of an individual known to have been previously arrested for cultivation of this substance was detected.

He went daily to a house owned by a bank, taking obvious security measures, which raised the suspicions of investigators, since his usual residence was close to this property, concluding that he had occupied this house to establish an indoor cannabis crop.

After the corresponding check was carried out by the electricity supply company, it was verified that neither of the two homes of which he was a user had an electricity contract, despite the fact that it was confirmed that both were being used and had several industrial air conditioning units, common in this type of crop.

As a result of the joint investigation, the Castellón Court of Instruction on Duty was asked for authorization to carry out search and seizure proceedings in the two homes, resulting in the discovery of several indoor cultivation rooms in each of them, where cannabis plants in an advanced state of flowering were found, with all the necessary equipment for professional and intensive cultivation of this substance.

In addition to the cultivation of marijuana and the obvious fraud of electricity, the main suspect was in possession of several weapons and ammunition. Specifically, when he detected the presence of the judicial commission in the vicinity of his home, he tried to get rid of a pistol and ammunition of different calibres, which was prevented thanks to the rapid intervention of the agents.

The investigations carried out have led to the conclusion that the suspect did not carry out any type of work activity, despite being the owner of several properties and using a high-end vehicle, which shows that the cultivation and trafficking of marijuana was his 'modus vivendi'.

In total, two people have been arrested for crimes against public health, electricity fraud and illegal possession of weapons, and more than 500 marijuana plants, two pistols, an air rifle, a large machete, 1,490 euros in cash, a vehicle and a large amount of equipment used for indoor marijuana cultivation have been seized.

The detainees have been brought before the court and have been ordered to be placed in provisional custody.

In addition to the investigative agents of the Customs Surveillance Service of the Tax Agency in Castellón and the National Police of Castellón, agents from the Prevention and Reaction Unit of this Police Station have participated in the operation, deactivating two professional laboratories for growing and extracting marijuana.