Alt CampAlt EmpordàAlt PenedèsAlt UrgellAlta RibagorçaAnoiaAranBagesBaix CampBaix EbreBaix EmpordàBaix LlobregatBaix PenedèsBarcelonèsBerguedàCerdanyaConca de BarberàGarrafGarriguesGarrotxaGironèsLluçanèsMaresmeMoianèsMontsiàNogueraOsonaPallars JussàPallars SobiràPla d'UrgellPla de l'EstanyPrioratRibera d'EbreRipollèsSegarraSegriàSelvaSolsonèsTarragonèsTerra AltaUrgellVallès OccidentalVallès OrientalAlt CampAlt EmpordàAlt PenedèsAlt UrgellAlta RibagorçaAnoiaAranBagesBaix CampBaix EbreBaix EmpordàBaix LlobregatBaix PenedèsBarcelonèsBerguedàCerdanyaConca de BarberàGarrafGarriguesGarrotxaGironèsLluçanèsMaresmeMoianèsMontsiàNogueraOsonaPallars JussàPallars SobiràPla d'UrgellPla de l'EstanyPrioratRibera d'EbreRipollèsSegarraSegriàSelvaSolsonèsTarragonèsTerra AltaUrgellVallès OccidentalVallès Oriental
CA|ES|EN
Diari de Catalunya logo

Diari de Catalunya

Firearms in Catalonia: Rise in Pistols and Drug Trafficking Fuel Calls for Harsher Penalties

Interior and the Mossos d'Esquadra are calling for tougher penalties under the Penal Code due to an increase in incidents linked to organized crime and large-scale cannabis cultivation.

Generic image of a handgun with emergency lights in the background.
IA

Generic image of a handgun with emergency lights in the background.

The Generalitat and the Mossos d'Esquadra are warning of an increase in firearms incidents in Catalonia, particularly linked to drug trafficking and large-scale cannabis cultivation, and are proposing tougher penalties to combat organized crime.

Concerns over the proliferation of firearms in criminal circles in Catalonia have prompted the Department of the Interior and the Catalan police to demand legislative changes. Although the region remains safe compared to other European countries, the rise in drug trafficking-related incidents has highlighted the need to adapt the Penal Code to a criminal reality that goes beyond common delinquency.
The Minister of the Interior, Núria Parlon, and the Director General of the Police, Josep Lluís Trapero, have advocated for harsher penalties, especially for large-scale cannabis cultivation and illicit possession of weapons. According to the Mossos, many serious incidents are linked to transnational organizations using Catalonia as a logistical or strategic base for their illicit businesses.
Catalonia has become one of Europe's main cannabis production centers, with high international demand and ease of export. The police believe current penalties are insufficient for industrial production and its connection to international criminal networks, which often resort to armed violence.
During 2025, 626 incidents involving firearms were recorded in Catalonia. Of these, 28% confirmed the use of real weapons, while 25% were simulated or fake. Despite an initial reduction in the first quarter of 2026, the trend has risen again, with an increase in the proportion of real weapons (35%) and a clear predominance of pistols and handguns (70% of those seized).
The Catalan coast concentrates 87% of incidents, coinciding with drug trafficking areas. The police distinguish between an inland Catalonia with fewer episodes and a coastal strip where criminal activities and transnational groups converge. Between 2024 and 2025, incidents with effective use of firearms grew by 35%, resulting in eight deaths and 28 injuries. In the first five months of 2026, there have already been six deaths and 18 injuries, with indications of organized crime.
The Interior Ministry acknowledges that there is no simple police solution, as shootings related to criminal organizations do not follow predictable patterns. Therefore, the Government believes the response must come through legislation. Proposals include tougher penalties for cannabis cultivation, equating large industrial plantations with more serious offenses, and increasing penalties for illicit possession of handguns, currently ranging from one to two years, to a range of four to five years.

Related News