The Mossos d’Esquadra’s basic drug warehouse in Barcelona has reached a critical saturation point: seized marijuana now exceeds the facility’s storage capacity. The Magatzem Central de Substàncies Estupefaents (MACSE), opened in Nou Barris in late 2023, was built to address the growing problem of storing confiscated cannabis. But frequent police raids, slow laboratory analysis and lengthy waits for judicial destruction orders have overwhelmed the system, police sources say.
Destroying seized marijuana now takes between one and one and a half years on average. The backlog has repeatedly forced the Mossos to expand storage, including through a recent tender for 2,106 new high-density polyethylene barrels, over 600 more than initially planned for 2024. Even so, the warehouse cannot keep pace with the volume, especially now that the MACSE handles drugs from four major police regions, Barcelona, Metropolitana Sud, Metropolitana Norte and Girona, as well as central services.
Police unions call the situation unsustainable. Toni Castejón, spokesperson for the Fepol union, says the facility has reached maximum capacity. In January, the Department of Interior confirmed that three factors were slowing destruction: analysis by a central laboratory, a judicial order authorizing destruction and access to an incineration plant. Mossos sources point to laboratory workload as the basic bottleneck, saying it has not kept pace with seizures. New technology is expected to help, but the backlog keeps growing.
Legal procedures add another complication. Spanish law allows destruction after a month if the court does not object, but most officers are reluctant to proceed without explicit judicial approval. Some operations have destroyed marijuana on-site, though this remains the exception. Albert Palacio of the USPAC union says immediate destruction should become standard protocol, as long as the necessary samples are preserved for court cases. Both unions want regulations changed to speed disposal and reduce storage-related risks.
Although the number of marijuana plants seized in Catalonia fell 20% last year, to 432,000 plants, with 375 plantations dismantled, the total weight of confiscated cannabis rose 34% to 9,300 kilos. That shift has deepened the storage crisis. The Mossos first piloted the barrel system in the Metropolitana Norte region, then expanded it as the scale of the problem became clear. The original plan called for 1,500 barrels in 2024 and another 1,500 in 2025, but actual demand has far exceeded those estimates.
The Mossos are not alone in facing storage problems. Police forces across Spain face similar challenges with cannabis seizures, leading to a national protocol in 2018 and an updated agreement in 2025. The guidelines recommend early judicial authorization for destruction. They also allow disposal after a month’s notice to the court if no objection is raised, a provision rarely used in practice.
The strain on police infrastructure reflects wider logistical challenges in Catalonia. A recent power outage at Barcelona-El Prat airport halted flights and forced diversions, showing how quickly critical infrastructure can be overwhelmed by unexpected events. Details are available in this report: Barcelona airport operations disrupted by major power failure.
Catalonia remains a major hub for marijuana cultivation in Europe, and the Mossos d’Esquadra face mounting pressure to find lasting solutions. Unless regulations change and laboratory capacity grows, the central warehouse is likely to stay near its limits, with consequences for police operations and public safety.
National and regional protocols shape Spain’s approach to drug destruction, aiming to preserve evidence for court while limiting health and security risks. The debate is about balancing legal safeguards with efficient disposal as cannabis seizures continue to strain police resources.
