MADRID, Jan. 11 (Xinhua) -- Spanish Civil Guards have made 25 arrests and seized 2,700 kilos of processed marijuana in the Catalan region of northeast Spain in what they describe as the "biggest" ever seizure of this kind of drug made in the country.
The Civil Guards said in a communique published on Friday that the drug was going to be shipped to the United Kingdom and Netherlands. The leaders of the smuggling organization were British and Dutch, but the gang also had Spanish, Moldovan, Brazilian and Lithuanian members.
The seizure of shipments of the drug disguised as sporting equipment.
The police operation also saw two marijuana plantations dismantled in Cabrera del Mar (close to Barcelona) and Calafell (Tarragona).
The operation began in April 2018 after 400 kilos of marijuana were discovered hidden in a shipment of vegetables en-route to Holland.
Spain is considered to be the gateway into Western Europe for most of the marijuana and hashish consumed in the region. This is mainly due to its proximity to north Africa, which makes it a logical entry port for smugglers -- many of whom operate out of ports or off beaches in the southwest of the country.
