The operation, named 'Vent de Ponent', began following a complaint filed by three owners in the La Noguera region, who reported serious damage to their fruit crops, which were in full bloom. The investigated company, based in Tarragona, had been hired to apply phytosanitary products to barley plots using an unmanned aircraft.

The dispersion of the product, possibly due to a failure to consider weather conditions, caused the phytosanitary agents to spread to adjacent plots. These fields, cultivated with fruit trees, suffered significant damage to their flowering and, consequently, to their future production yield.

The Nature Protection Team (EPRONA) of the Lleida Civil Guard Command took charge of the investigation. As part of Operation 'Vent de Ponent', extensive samples were collected in collaboration with technicians from Plant Health of Catalonia. These samples were taken from both the barley plots and the affected fruit tree areas and sent to the Cabrils Agro-Food Laboratory in Barcelona for detailed analysis.

During the investigation, EPRONA confirmed that the company lacked the necessary authorization to carry out phytosanitary applications using drones. Furthermore, it was verified that herbicides whose aerial application is expressly prohibited were used. The corresponding proceedings have been handed over to the Court of First Instance and Instruction number 3 of Balaguer, in Lleida, for judicial processing.