One of the largest seizures of methamphetamine in Spain

• The person responsible for manufacturing the product has been arrested

• The amount of methamphetamine could have sold on the black market for up to nine million euros

• The organisation introduced the drug by air, hidden in shipments of construction bricks

December 12, 2019 .- The Tax Agency has dismantled a laboratory in Madrid dedicated to processing methamphetamines for its transformation into 'crystal'. The operation has seen 220 kilos of methamphetamine seized - one of the largest seizures of this type of drug performed in Spain. In addition, during the operation, coordinated with the United States customs authorities, the person responsible for the manufacturing of the narcotic substances has been arrested.

The Customs Surveillance officers of the Tax Agency in Madrid found two homes of the organisation in the Madrid neighbourhood of Vallecas, despite the security measures used by the criminal organisation, which monitored the movements of people in the area. The lab was located on one of the floors, and the other was used for drug distribution.

Once the home thought to potentially home the lab had been located, and taking extreme caution when monitoring the area, the researchers took advantage of the fact that a shipment of methamphetamine had arrived in Spain from the United States to begin the entry operation. At this point, and in order to avoid the evidence being destroyed, the recipient was detained before being brought back into the home.

With the corresponding judicial authorisation, the flat was searched, with already prepared drugs, remains of methamphetamines and the necessary equipment for its manufacture being found inside. Up to 100 kg of chemicals used to process the product, such as hydrochloric acid, toluene, acetone and caustic soda, were also found; all in industrial containers. The fact that these products were stored in a private home and handled without the appropriate safety measures was hazardous and could have caused fires.

Drugs hidden in bricks

The investigated organisation introduced methamphetamine into Spain by air, concealed in shipments of construction bricks, using various delivery addresses to avoid possible controls by the investigators. The cargo came from Mexico and was shipped to the US for subsequent introduction into Spain, meaning that the investigation has been coordinated with US customs authorities (HSI). The operation deployed by Customs Surveillance officials has also involved the participation of the Central Customs Laboratory of the Tax Agency.

In the operation, one person (the person responsible for processing the drug) was arrested, a total of 220 kilos of methamphetamines and some 100 kilos of substances for processing were intervened, as well as the tools for the mixtures, bags and a scale where the doses were prepared.

The amount of methamphetamine could have sold on the black market for up to 8,800,000 euros (about 40 euros per gram). ‘Crystal meth’ is a highly addictive and very potent substance that causes serious damage to the consumer’s nervous and neural system.

The success of the operation lies not only in the amount of methamphetamine involved, but also in the discovery of the lab where it was made and the arrest of the person responsible for the manufacturing of the product. Investigations remain open.

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Customs Supervision: Presentation of charges for smuggling and related offences

Free telephone 900351378.

Email: denunciasvigilanciaaduanera@correo.aeat.es

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Filming of the drugs and seized processing material (to download the video you must enter the following web address):

https://we.tl/t-YlhZFMUIAA