Marijuana from Thailand and Canada: Catalonia imports despite being Europe's largest producer

BarcelonaCatalonia is the major marijuana production center in Europe. It's grown in abandoned farmhouses in Les Garrigues, in the forests of Pallars, in abandoned industrial buildings in the Barcelona metropolitan area, and in houses built on the outskirts of many towns in La Selva. "In Vidreres and Maçanet, there are housing developments where every other house has a cannabis plantation inside," explain the police. However, despite Catalonia becoming the continent's main supplier, marijuana is now also arriving from abroad. The Spanish Tax Agency has seized 1,214 kilos of marijuana from Thailand and Canada at El Prat Airport and the Port of Barcelona. However, this figure doesn't include the 467 kilos that entered through the Port of Huelva and another 642 kilos that Canadian police seized at the Port of Montreal, which were also headed for Barcelona. This amounts to more than two tons of drugs seized in seven operations over the last six months.

This isn't an isolated phenomenon. It's a new trend that could alter the drug trade in Catalonia. Local drug traffickers have known this for some time. Almost a year ago, one of them—who had made a fortune trafficking marijuana and cocaine for fifteen years—warned this newspaper about the paradigm shift: "Now it comes from Thailand. They have good sunlight for the plants; it's high quality, and the legislation is more favorable." Lawyers accustomed to dealing with drug lords also know this well. "The marijuana business is over; the market is shifting: France already has plantations, and now it's also being imported from Canada and Thailand. And, what's more, it's better quality and cheaper," a lawyer explained to ARA a few months ago.

Law enforcement agencies are more cautious about this potential paradigm shift. However, sources within the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police) admit that anything marijuana imported from elsewhere rather than produced locally is less harmful to the country. The fact that marijuana took root in Catalonia, with thousands of small plantations scattered throughout the territory, led to a proliferation of firearms. Criminal organizations acquired them to protect themselves from raids by people from other areas who wanted to steal their merchandise.

"It's a new game," warn sources at Customs Surveillance. It's new because until now, goods sold by air or sea from Canada were practically never inspected. Now, throughout Spain, they are being scrutinized more closely due to this increase. There was already some additional surveillance with Thailand, mainly due to the illegal tobacco trade. But now that has also increased. Everything became clear this spring. On April 30, Canadian police alerted Spanish authorities that they had detected a shipping container with 643 kilos of marijuana. It had departed from Montreal and was headed to Barcelona. A month later, on May 23, a container from Thailand carrying textiles arrived at the port of the Catalan capital. But among the merchandise were 796 kg of marijuana. Customs Surveillance agents carried out a controlled delivery—waiting for someone to pick up the drugs so they could be arrested—and went to a warehouse in Barcelona. There, they arrested one person. The drugs, it appeared, were destined for Madrid. A few days later, a very similar shipment arrived in Huelva. Again, it contained a large quantity of drugs, up to 467 kilos of marijuana, originating from Thailand. Andalusia is also considered one of Europe's marijuana-growing regions. The plantations are concentrated in the Granada area. According to police sources, this problem is also deeply rooted in Toledo. The investigation into these first three shipments in such a short period is still ongoing.

More interventions

But it doesn't end there. That same April, a cargo plane arrived at El Prat Airport from Thailand. Hidden among the boxes were 121 kilos of marijuana. Once again, Customs Surveillance carried out a controlled delivery and arrested the person who came to collect the drugs. This operation also demonstrates a shift: until now, small quantities of drugs were sent by plane, mainly using parcels, or someone would try to smuggle a suitcase full of drugs. Now they have crossed that threshold and are sending large quantities. This, according to Customs Surveillance sources, necessitates greater control of goods at the airport.

This is demonstrated by three other operations: on April 24, they seized up to 121 kilos of marijuana at El Prat Airport that had arrived from Thailand. Just a month ago, on November 12, a cargo plane arriving from Canada was carrying 79 kilos of marijuana. A week later, on November 18, they caught another one. A plane from Canada was transporting several car parts, and hidden inside were 153 kilos of marijuana. Once again, someone was arrested during a controlled delivery. This marijuana is still being stored at the Tax Agency headquarters, in a small room of just over 10 square meters.² Full of boxes—there are 46 now—and under heavy security. On the floor, covered in sawdust, are still the marks of material seized in the past that deteriorated.

Drugs in paint

Whether arriving by boat or plane, the new drug routes have also changed how drugs are transported. Now, especially in cocaine trafficking, the most common technique is the "blind hook." Previously, traffickers would open a container in South American ports and place the drugs in several bags at the bottom. The shipping company would practically never know. Now, however, they hide the substances among the merchandise. And they don't do it haphazardly. On August 13, a container full of paint cans from Thailand arrived at the port of Barcelona. Inside, in contact with the paint, were vacuum-sealed bags of marijuana. They were attached to the bottom of the can, and Customs Surveillance agents had to pry them off with screwdrivers and considerable force. In total, there were 65 kilos of marijuana, and one person was arrested while collecting the drugs.

"We're surprised that they're bringing it here with all the marijuana we have," say sources at the Tax Agency, a sentiment echoed by the Mossos d'Esquadra (Catalan police). The main conclusion is that it must be very cheap to manufacture for them to cover the transportation costs and still make a profit.