In October 2025, Catalan police carried out a major operation in the industrial district of L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, dismantling one of the largest indoor marijuana plantations in the region. During a search of a warehouse covering about 300 square meters, officers discovered thousands of plants at various stages of growth. In total, police counted 5,140 plants—the highest number found at facilities of this kind in Catalonia in recent years.
Law enforcement became interested after detecting abnormal energy consumption in one of the industrial buildings. A brief inspection revealed that the facility had been illegally connected to the power grid. To do this, the perpetrators dug an underground tunnel one and a half meters deep to access a high-voltage line running beneath the street. Preliminary estimates put the losses from the unauthorized electricity use at over 194,000 euros.
Inside the warehouse, a complex system of ventilation and air filtration had been installed. Special gases were used to accelerate plant growth and mask the distinctive smell. This allowed for optimal growing conditions while keeping the operation hidden from the outside world. At the time of the raid, two men were inside; another two arrived later with equipment and supplies for maintaining the plantation. All four were arrested and brought before the L’Hospitalet de Llobregat court.
The operation was the result of a swift police response to reports of suspicious activity in the area. After obtaining a court warrant to search the premises, officers conducted a thorough inspection and seized all discovered plants. Following the investigation, the detainees have been charged with illegal cultivation of narcotic substances and large-scale electricity theft.
