The Mossos d’Esquadra arrested a 46-year-old man this Tuesday on a property in the Serreta urbanization of Sant Jaume de Castelldans, in El Segrià, as part of an investigation for alleged drug trafficking and cultivation of marijuana. The operation concluded with the discovery of a plantation in two rooms of a warehouse and the seizure of prepared drugs, in addition to a precision scale.
The arrested person is under investigation for an alleged crime against public health. The Segrià Investigation Unit took charge of the case, which had been opened at the beginning of the year after detecting indications that a marijuana dealer was growing the drug in a town in the Lleida regions.
The investigation advanced with surveillance and stakeouts on non-consecutive days and at different times of day. The agents located the suspect on a farm with two warehouses and a dwelling, and confirmed that he went there every day.
During the checks, the Mossos detected several elements that reinforced their suspicions. From the outside, fans and air conditioning equipment could be heard. They also checked that when the man accessed the warehouses there was a smell of marijuana.
To confirm the activity inside, the Mossos activated the Drone Unit. The inspection allowed verification of the existence of four air conditioning units and ventilation tubes hidden among other structures, in addition to a clear heat source compatible with relevant activity inside the property.
The researchers also reviewed the energy consumption of the place and found that more electricity was being used than was contracted. Later they discovered that the suspect was illegally connected to the general grid through a lamppost.
The police operation was set up when the man was accessing the property. During the search, officers counted 454 marijuana plants distributed in two rooms of one of the warehouses.
In the second warehouse, they located 675 grams of marijuana balls and a precision scale, material that investigators link to the preparation and distribution of the substance.
The detainee will soon be brought before the court at the duty Investigating Court of Lleida, while the investigation remains open to specify the scope of the activity detected on the farm.