One of the biggest ecstasy laboratories ever in Spain has been dismantled on the outskirts of Valencia, the Spanish National Police said in a statement on Wednesday.
Police moved in after noticing chemical smells, observing comings and goings of large plastic vats, and seeing people wearing industrial masks and changing clothes as they emerged from a building in Sueca, a rural, wooded suburb of the coastal city.
The investigation began at the end of last year by agents assigned to the Narcotics Group of the National Police in Benidorm, when they became aware of the existence of a criminal network, based in the eastern area, which was allegedly dedicated to the preparation of synthetic drugs (crystal) in a laboratory located around the district of Sueca for distribution throughout Spain.
After the agents’ investigations, it was possible to obtain the identity of two of the members of the network. The police were able to carry out various surveillance and follow-ups until they located several properties, including the remote country house located in the vicinity of Sueca.
Police said that the criminal organisation had chosen the location strategically to try to go unnoticed, since the laboratory was located in a wooded and mountainous area, with poor and narrow access roads.
On 17 January, the police made 12 arrests and seized 1,900 litres of MDMA, or ecstasy, 1,000 litres of other chemicals to make ecstasy, and 1,000 litres of chemical residues.
Police said they found decanters, ovens, test-tubes, precision scales and protection gear. The seized material was enough to produce more than two tonnes of amphetamines, the police said. Of the 12 arrests, four have been ordered to be held in prison.
In addition to belonging to an alleged criminal organisation and producing illegal products, those arrested are being pursued for environmental crimes for having released untreated chemical residues in nature.
🚩Desmantelado en #Valencia uno de los macro laboratorios de producción de #éxtasis ➕grandes de España
— Policía Nacional (@policia) January 24, 2024
🔹1⃣2⃣detenidos relacionadas con la producción de #anfetaminas
🔹Arrojaban al campo vertidos químicos con el material sobrante de la transformación de la #droga pic.twitter.com/sRPfarlUPO
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