17 Arrested, 10 Kilos of Marijuana Seized, and €4,300 Confiscated in ‘Operation Ácido-23’
May 9, 2025 – In a major crackdown on drug trafficking, Spain’s Guardia Civil has dismantled a criminal network operating under the guise of legal cannabis associations in the Vega Baja region of Alicante province. Six cannabis clubs have been permanently shut down for the next five years, and 17 individuals from eight nationalities have been arrested for drug trafficking and organized crime.
The investigation, known as Operation Ácido-23, began in March 2023 following a request by Spain’s Special Anti-Drug Prosecutor. Authorities became suspicious after registering a new cannabis association and noticing a spike in reports of drug possession and consumption, particularly among foreign nationals in the area.
Although these clubs presented themselves as non-profit cannabis associations, investigators discovered they were actually acting as profitable drug outlets. Over the course of a year-long investigation, the Guardia Civil launched the operation in six phases. Between November 2024 and March 2025, officers conducted eight raids in the towns of Torrevieja, Orihuela Costa, Guardamar del Segura, and Rojales.
During the raids, agents seized nearly 10 kilograms of marijuana and related products, including 767 pre-rolled joints, syringes containing liquid cannabis extract, and cannabis-infused edibles. Authorities also uncovered a small on-site laboratory used to produce hashish, oils, and other derivatives. In total, €4,298.78 in cash was also confiscated.
The 17 suspects—11 men and 6 women aged between 26 and 69—include Spanish, British, Colombian, Russian, and Finnish nationals. All have been released on bail pending further legal proceedings, but the six associations involved have been officially closed for five years by court order.
The Guardia Civil emphasized its ongoing commitment to fighting drug-related crime and called on the public to continue reporting suspicious activity through official channels.
