British couple arrested for ‘leading’ huge marijuana network on Costa Blanca, caught with €216,000 of drugs including cannabis ‘jelly beans’, ‘jam’ and ‘cream chocolate spread’

GUARDIA Civil have arrested 21 people for cultivating and distributing illegal narcotics under a network of cannabis associations on the Costa Blanca, including two British ‘ring-leaders’.

The unnamed British couple distributed marijuana and hashish through four cannabis associations in Torrevieja, which reportedly had a combined membership of 6,000.

Guardia Civil also raided seven addresses in the city, including two private homes, and found €216,000 worth of narcotics, including three plantations of marijuana, 1.1 kg of methamphetamine, 25 kg of marijuana, 4.5 kg of hashish, 38 cigarettes and 541 g of hashish oil.

Among the haul were also found 11.6 kg of cannabis derivatives, including cream chocolate spread, muffins, jelly beans, jams, lollipops, biscuits and honey.

A total of 21 people have been arrested, with 17 men between the ages of 25 and 57 and of different nationalities (Spanish, Senegalese, Chadian, Dutch, Swiss, Russian and British) and four women, between 28 and 48 years of age and of Spanish, Canadian and British nationalities.

The authorities have refused bail for the British couple as the alleged ring-leaders of the organisation, who will await charges of drug trafficking and criminal organisation.