Spanish authorities have approved the construction of a new specialized warehouse for storing large quantities of drugs seized in Andalusia. The facility will be located on the premises of the Civil Guard command in Seville and is designed to hold up to 50 tons of illegal substances at once. The project has been allocated €1.4 million, with completion expected within six months.
Andalusia has long been considered the main entry point for hashish and a significant share of cocaine into the country. In recent years, the volume of seized drugs in the region has risen sharply, leading to a shortage of suitable spaces for their temporary storage. As a result, law enforcement has had to use inadequate facilities, increasing safety risks.
Rising seizures and new challenges
In 2024, law enforcement officers seized more than 123,000 kilograms of cocaine in Spain, 42% of which was in Andalusia. The figures for hashish are even higher: of the 199,000 kilograms found nationwide, 71% was discovered in this region. Additionally, Andalusia accounted for 30% of all marijuana seizures and nearly half of all cannabis plants destroyed in Spain over the year.
The surge in seizures has led to existing warehouses becoming overcrowded. In some cases, drugs were temporarily stored in areas not intended for that purpose, raising concerns about the preservation of evidence and the safety of staff.
Features of the new facility
The new warehouse will cover an area of 618 square meters. It will be built on a plot that previously housed an auto dump. Before construction began, power lines were relocated to clear the site. The design features a rectangular layout, a central driveway, and two gates for vehicle entry and exit.
Inside, there will be nine separate zones—one for each Civil Guard command in Andalusia. The facility will also include rooms for weighing and packing, offices, sanitary facilities, and changing rooms with access for people with reduced mobility. For fire safety, a water tank and a shared equipment storage area will be added.
State-of-the-art security measures
The project places special emphasis on security. The building will be equipped with an alarm system, motion and vibration sensors, and perimeter video surveillance. The structure will be built from reinforced concrete to increase resistance to break-ins. All technical details are included in the project documentation, which consists of more than sixty pages of drawings and diagrams.
Each of the nine zones is designed for an average volume of seizures typical for its respective department. This will allow for optimal traffic management and minimize the time evidence is stored before being destroyed by court order.
Outlook and statistics on destruction
Authorities emphasize that the new facility is a temporary link in the fight against drug trafficking. The main goal is to ensure secure storage until the court decides to destroy the seized batch. Over the past five years, more than 1,600 tons of hashish, nearly 300 tons of cocaine, and more than 400 tons of various substances related to drug production and transportation have been destroyed in Spain.
The launch of the new facility is expected to improve law enforcement efficiency, reduce risks, and speed up the destruction of seized substances. As a result, the region will be better equipped to face the challenges associated with illicit drug trafficking.
