In recent years, the fight against illegal marijuana cultivation in Spain has become increasingly relevant. This time, law enforcement turned their attention to Pinos Puente in the province of Granada, where four large indoor cannabis growing centers were discovered. The operation was a significant event for the region, addressing not only drug-related crime but also the prevention of large-scale electricity theft, which directly affects residents’ bills and safety.
According to El Espanol, Civil Guard officers carried out a large-scale operation that resulted in the seizure of 1,222 marijuana plants. During the raid, a 37-year-old man was arrested; he was wanted under two court orders for arrest and imprisonment. Additionally, energy company specialists, together with police, found and disconnected ten illegal connections to the electricity grid that were used to power equipment in the greenhouses.
Operation details
The operation was conducted as part of a case codenamed ‘Olokasia’. It involved not only local officers from the Guardia Civil but also members of the public safety division and specialists from the electricity supplier. Working together, they uncovered four houses equipped with modern indoor marijuana cultivation systems. Each of these properties had illegal connections to the power grid, allowing the perpetrators to evade paying for the large amounts of electricity consumed.
After obtaining a court warrant to search the premises, police entered the targeted houses and documented the presence of professional plant-growing equipment as well as numerous marijuana bushes. All seized plants were destroyed and the equipment dismantled. The homeowners will soon appear in court on charges of violating public health laws and electricity theft.
Arrests and further developments
During the operation, a man who was already wanted under two court orders was detained. He was taken to the police station for further legal proceedings. According to Ale Espanol, this is not an isolated case: just a few days earlier, a 66-year-old man was arrested in the neighboring locality of Tocón de Quéntar. Police found another 380 marijuana plants in his home, and he too was already wanted on two warrants for arrest and detention.
In both cases, the charges involve not only illegal cultivation and distribution of drugs, but also large-scale electricity theft, causing losses for energy companies as well as law-abiding consumers. According to Ale Espanol, all those detained will face prosecution under the relevant articles of the criminal code.
Consequences for the region
Large-scale operations to uncover underground marijuana plantations in Andalusia are becoming increasingly frequent. In recent months alone, police have repeatedly discovered major cannabis cultivation centers in different areas of Granada and neighboring provinces. In most cases, offenders use modern technology and illegal electricity connections, creating additional risks for infrastructure and public safety.
The surge in such crimes is linked to rising demand for marijuana and attempts by organized groups to make quick profits. However, proactive measures by police and energy companies help not only to seize drugs but also to prevent further electricity losses. According to a RUSSPAIN.com source, more than a dozen such plantations were dismantled in Andalusia last year, and the number of criminal cases opened for electricity theft nearly doubled.
In recent years, Spain has seen an increase in operations targeting illegal marijuana cultivation. In Andalusia alone, police discovered several large, high-tech greenhouses in the past six months. In most cases, those detained already had criminal records or were wanted by the authorities. These operations help not only to seize drugs but also to uncover electricity theft schemes, an issue that is becoming increasingly relevant for the region.
