• The criminal organization was organized around a family clan made up of 16 individuals, eight men and eight women, all of them originally from Bolivia or of Bolivian nationality, most of them with police records.

• In the "Uyuni" operation, agents have seized more than 4,560 marijuana plants, 22 kilos of buds of this plant, more than 3,500 euros in cash, a simulated firearm and five vehicles.

• The 16 people arrested have been sent to prison by order of the judicial authority

December 19, 2024.- Customs Surveillance officials of the Tax Agency together with agents of the National Police have dismantled a family clan that had allegedly formed a criminal organization dedicated to drug trafficking. In the "Uyuni" operation, 16 people have been arrested, eight men and eight women, all of Bolivian origin and some of them naturalized Spaniards, most of them with police records. After being brought before the judicial authorities, they ordered the imprisonment of all those arrested.

Investigation of a family clan dedicated to large-scale marijuana trafficking

The investigation into Operation Uyuni began in October and was carried out by officials from the Customs Surveillance Service of the Tax Agency together with agents from the Drugs and Organized Crime Unit –UDYCO- of the National Police, when certain information was received about a group of Bolivian citizens who could be dedicated to the cultivation and production of marijuana, supplying the production to different criminal organizations with an area of operation in Spain and countries in the rest of Europe.

From that moment on, investigators attached to the judicial police brigade began their investigations, carrying out numerous surveillances and follow-ups that revealed a pattern of actions by those under investigation that pointed to a presumed "modus operandi" framed in drug trafficking, and they located several properties that could be being used for the "indoor" cultivation of cannabis, its production and subsequent distribution.

The agents also confirmed that it is an alleged perfectly structured organization, with a marked hierarchy and a visible distribution of roles, distributing among the different members of the clan, belonging to the same family, the activity necessarily linked to it, such as the purchase of different types of cannabis seeds, the distribution of effects and materials that make up the infrastructure necessary for its cultivation and transport, and custody in different properties spread across several towns in the province of Granada.

Twelve house searches in different locations in the province

Once the first phase of the investigation was completed, twelve simultaneous house searches were carried out in the towns of Santa Fé, El Jau, Cijuela and Alhendín, resulting in the seizure of more than 4,560 marijuana plants in different stages of growth and flowering, and 22 kilos of buds from the same plant. In addition, a simulated firearm, five vehicles and more than 3,500 euros in cash were seized.

Curiously, one of the marijuana plantations was located by the agents in a hidden space behind a refrigerator.

16 arrested, all in prison

The 16 people arrested were charged with belonging to a criminal organisation, drug trafficking and also for defrauding electricity, since the buildings that housed the drugs had illegal connections to the electricity supply network.

Once the proceedings were completed, those arrested were placed at the disposal of the judicial authority, which ordered all of them to be sent to prison.