Another anti-drugs operation, unfolded, this time in Vélez Benaudalla where a greenhouse had 3,000 marihuana plants inside.

The owner of the greenhouse along with seven other people who had been found working inside were arrested by the Vigilancia Aduanera de la Agencia Tributaria (the equivalent of Customs and Excise officers belonging to Inland Revenue).

When the customs officers entered they found mature cannabis sativa plants with workers already harvesting them. There was also a industrial-sized destemming machine in full operation.

The farming process used was a normal one for a greenhouse with no aircon and lighting system that are needed in indoor plantations, so there was no suspicious electricity usage.

Editorial comment: the amount of police time and resources that are gobbled up locating and dismantling illegal marihuana plantation could be much better spent on tackling violent crimes and hard-drugs. Marihuana consumption is about as detrimental to a person’s health as heavy drinking yet the latter is not illegal. Perhaps it’s time to legalise it completely.

(News: Velez-Benaudalla, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)