The operation was prompted after investigators detected a van leaving the residence, raising suspicions that it was transporting an illicit cargo. Following a pursuit, officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but the driver ignored signals and fled. Eventually, the van was intercepted, and inside, 13 raffia bags and seven large garbage bags filled with marijuana buds were found.

The investigation began due to suspicions about a potential illegal plantation inside a chalet in the town. A strong smell of marijuana in the vicinity of the property was the primary indicator that led to setting up a surveillance operation. During this monitoring, agents observed unusual movements and activity, confirming that the odor was noticeable even from a distance, reinforcing the hypothesis of a large-scale indoor cultivation.

After the vehicle's interception, the chalet was searched, revealing an indoor plantation equipped with hydroponic marijuana cultivation devices. Furthermore, the setup was illegally connected to the electrical grid. This intervention has dismantled a significant drug production point in the area and removed a large quantity of marijuana before its potential distribution. The arrested individual has been placed at the disposal of the judiciary in Elche, facing charges for smuggling, public health offenses, and electricity fraud.