78 Arrested in Europe's Major Weed Bust: 772 Pounds Seized, 2 International Crime Networks Exposed

European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (Europol) together with the Italian Financial Guard and Spanish Regional Catalan Police cracked down on a major organized criminal network that was trafficking several tons of cannabis to the European Union. The investigation dealt a blow to the money laundering network, clearing the illicit proceeds, reports Europol.

Last week, police arrested 78 people (58 in Italy and 20 in Spain) involved in the trafficking operation. They seized around 350 kilos (772 pounds) of cannabis (327 kg of hashish and 33kg of weed), weapons, electronic equipment, documents and assets worth €845,000 ($894,000). During the investigation, police forces searched 105 houses.

The operation busted two separate networks – one dealing with drug trafficking and the other money laundering. Both networks were connected through its leaders.

Europol busted the criminal network in November 2022 when the investigation led to the arrest of 36 suspects of Albanian, Italian and Spanish nationality in Italy. In just two years (between 2019 and 2021), police in Italy and Spain seized more than six tons of marijuana and hashish and refills for weed-based e-cigarettes.

See Also: Massive Drug Bust In Oklahoma Finds Marijuana Worth Millions Of Dollars Hidden In Boxes Labeled Shitake Mushrooms

The investigation revealed that suspects used encrypted communication platforms Sky ECC and Encrochat to organize their operations. 

Moroccan nationals based in Spain carried out drug deliveries to Italy, using an informal banking system similar to hawala, known as fei-ch’ien. Europol officials, according to media reports, say this underground banking system is run mainly by Chinese nationals.

Financial and asset recovery investigations are still ongoing. 

Europol managed the exchange of information and helped coordinate the investigation by providing analytical support. The EU law enforcement agency continues its support by providing forensic capabilities.

See Also: DEA's 50-Year $1 Trillion Drug War: Why Were There 250K Marijuana Arrests In 2022?

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Photo: Courtesy of Europol