Spain’s Guardia Civil reported the seizure of the largest amount of packaged cannabis ever found anywhere in the world. Authorities said they seized more than 32 tons of cannabis, equivalent to over a million plants, which has a street value of more than $65 million.

“Operation Jardines ended with the seizure of 32,370.2 kilograms of marijuana buds, the largest seizure of this substance not only in Spain but internationally. Their equivalent in whole plants would be approximately 1,100,000 specimens,” police said in a statement on Saturday.

The group of 20 people was arrested by the police had “more than 32 tons of bud” stocked in the Spanish cities of Toledo, Ciudad Real, Valencia and Asturias, which they sold “through a complex business network” which involved shipping the vacuum-packed cannabis throughout Spain as well as to Switzerland, Holland, Germany and Belgium and other European countries.

The Guardia said the 20 people, men and women, at the cannabis facility controlled all production and distribution through various “companies” that performed different parts of the process – from buying the seeds, to growing and drying the plants, to packaging and ship them.

Inacutado el mayor alijo de marijuana discovered to hasta el momento.

The organización desmantelada tenía más de 32 clayadas de cogollos de esta droga almacenada en Toledo, Ciudad Real, Valencia y Asturias.https://t.co/hXx8XR9HdE pic.twitter.com/QigxbsuBg0

— Guardia Civil � (@guardiacivil) November 5, 2022

Cannabis in Spain

Recreational use in Spain is decriminalized and allowed in private spaces, including growing small numbers of cannabis plants when not visible from the outside. There are about 700 cannabis clubs throughout Spain, with some requiring membership fees or exclusive invitations to join. As delivery and distribution remain illegal, this approach follows the Dutch model.

Although many Europeans…