General Manager of Mossos d’Esquadra, Josep Luis Traperohas called for “opening the watermelon” regarding the criminal punishment imposed on associated criminals Marijuana cultivation and trafficking are increasingly linked to organized crimeWhich opened the door to changing legislation Toughening penalties in the Penal Code Because it has a deterrent effect on this type of criminal activity.
This is how he explained it in today’s editorial “Marijuana and Organized Crime: Challenges and Response Strategies”Which was held on Friday in Barcelona with the aim of discussing this issue through tables and presentations presented by legal, police and political experts.
Trapero understood this This criminal phenomenon is increasingly expanding Organized crime settled in Catalonia because it existed Very high performanceSponsored, he says, because Criminal repression is low or very low Few legal consequences occur.
Moreover, he referred to the “naive view” of society about 15 years ago, when the marijuana trade began to establish itself in Catalan territory, since then. It has been socially understood that it does not cause a serious impact on healthAccording to him.
Security and corruption
The Director General of Police added that the increase in this type of crime is increasing Serious safety implications As criminal groups leave other activities such as house burglary to settle on marijuana because, according to Trapero, “it is more profitable and the punishment is lower.”
However, it also causes impacts in the social and economic sphere, as it is understood in various sectors of society It is more profitable to cooperate with criminal groupswhether helping set up electrical installations for a supply scam or guarding a marijuana plant warehouse.
On the other hand, Trapero noted that the increase in marijuana-related organized crime has also produced a Increase in firearms on the streets to protect farms To avoid “coups” (attacks by other gangs trying to steal goods), but also to repel possible police interventions.
Given this situation, Trapero stated that in Catalonia this activity will continue with… Improving police intelligence, cooperation between various sectors, improving procedures and increasing police forcesHe added: “We will not sit idly by.”
2024 data
In his speech, Trapero presented various data from 2024 on this phenomenon, reflecting 115 violent incidents. 80 of these were “drug attacks” between groups that stole drugs30% of them were caused by firearms, and two were killed.
In total, Mossos was dismantled The intervention took place on 444 farms comprising approximately 500,000 plants (6,000 kilograms of marijuana), but Trapero acknowledged that although the success of the police work is good news, it also has a downside because there are “a lot of plants.”
Moreover, he said that out of 2,000 detainees in 2024, 300 are Linked to organized crime10% (200 people) were placed in temporary prison.
Public health problem
Trapero also noted that marijuana today is different than it was years ago, as plants have been modified to it Increased THC content, which currently exceeds 20%.
“It causes a Serious damage to public health. “There is very high consumption and we do not have to focus it on a specific person, because it ultimately affects public health.”