In Cartagena, local police and technical staff from the City Council’s Urban Planning department, alongside electricity supply technicians, have collaborated with the National Police to dismantle six cannabis plantations in the Cerro de Los Moros area. The operation, which took place last week, followed police investigations and community reports from residents of Los Mateos and Santa Lucía regarding significant electrical issues, including surges, outages, and occasional fires.

During the operation, which involved a multidisciplinary team, over eight hundred cannabis plants were discovered across six interior growing sites. Each plantation possessed sophisticated electrical installations designed to optimise conditions for growth, allowing for up to four harvests a year, which resulted in excessive power consumption that contributed to the network problems the community was facing.

Alongside the plants, authorities found illegal connections to the electricity grid that posed safety risks, prompting involvement from the local fire service. One individual has been arrested during the operation and is now in judicial custody as legal proceedings get underway.

Local officials are also examining the registered properties for potential illegal construction violations. This action underscores the importance of community involvement in reporting unlawful activities, which has led to a significant law enforcement response aimed at restoring safety and order in the area.