The Minister of the Interior and Public Security, Núria Parlon, has advocated for the need to toughen penalties for large-scale marijuana trafficking and to strengthen police instruments against criminal organizations. Parlon believes that "penal responses must be adapted to the reality of the phenomenon, especially when international organized crime networks are involved".
The minister has warned about the risks associated with marijuana consumption and the negative impacts of drug trafficking on public health, community coexistence, and general security. For this reason, Parlon supports a strategy that "combines prevention, health protection, specialized investigation, and penalties proportionate to the severity of the offenses".
Parlon emphasized that "the fight against drug trafficking must also target the logistical and economic structures that sustain it". She highlighted that identifying infrastructure, monitoring investigated groups, and police cooperation are key elements to dismantling these criminal networks.
In this context, the Mossos d’Esquadra carried out a significant operation in Cabanes, where they seized 8,025 kilograms of hashish hidden among legal merchandise inside a trailer. The operation, the result of an investigation initiated in June 2026, culminated in the arrest of seven men allegedly linked to a drug trafficking organization.
The seized drugs have an estimated value of over 16.2 million euros on the illicit market. This seizure represents a significant portion of the nearly 14,900 kilograms of hashish that the Mossos have confiscated during 2026 up to October 1st. During the operation, a firearm was also found in one of the vans linked to the detainees.
This action underscores the importance of identifying the infrastructure used for drug trafficking and investigating those responsible to hinder the continuity of criminal activity.
The Department of the Interior and Public Security reiterates its commitment to strengthening specialized investigation, police intelligence, coordination between security forces, and international cooperation to combat networks operating beyond the borders of Catalonia.
