Police bust major Costa marihuana growing gang

AN ALLEGED Costa del Sol marihuana farming gang has been broken up by the Guardia Civil and 12 people arrested.

It is believed the group, which police had been investigating since November last year, grew massive amounts of cannabis at homes spread across the Costa, which worked independently to avoid all being busted at the same time.

Each home was constantly guarded by a group member and regularly checked by the group leader, the police explained.

All the homes had been connected to public or residential area electrical supply to avoid detection of the high consumption required by the greenhouses, and in some cases tunnels had been created under streets to reach cables.

Due to the complex nature of the electrical arrangements, Endesa technicians were called in to disconnect the supplies.

More than 3,500 cannabis plants, 25 kilos of marihuana ready for sale and other items were confiscated during searches on eight properties in Mijas, Benalmadena and Alhaurin de la Torre, and police also discovered another home in Benalmadena which the group was preparing to use as a new greenhouse.