The ex-Honorary Consul for Finland was dismissed in 2018 following a request by the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs because of his conduct.

The Minister considered that the then Consul, Albert Ginjaume, was participating in “inadequate activities” for an honorary consul because of his positioning on the sovereignty process; i.e, pro-Catalan-independence activities.

However, since then, following a police investigation by the Guardia Civil, the now ex consul, Sr. Ginjaume, has been arrested in connection with a transnational criminal organisation specialised in “fraudulent operations.”

The said organisation carried out large importing operations of drugs, avoiding inspections by using forged customs declarations.

Mr Albert Ginjaume, who runs an import/export company, has denied having any connection with this illegal activity (importation of khat). He considers that his honour has been compromised by these accusations

He deplores the fact that his condition of being an ex-honorary consul is being mixed up with his post as  Chairman of AGSA in order “to make erroneous conclusions,” and that the police had not made the necessary checks before he was arrested.

As for the drug haul made by the police, culminating in the arrests, the Guardia Civil considers  it the largest shipment of khat ever intercepted in Europe and that its street value is approximately 61m euros.

About Khat
Khat or qat is a flowering plant, native to the East and West Hararghe zones of Ethiopia. Khat contains the alkaloid cathinone, a stimulant, which is said to cause excitement, loss of appetite, and euphoria. Among communities from the areas where the plant is native, khat chewing has a history as a social custom dating back thousands of years, analogous to the use of coca leaves in South America and betel nut in Asia.

(News: Cataluña, Spain)