The Guardia Civil has executed an operation, named ‘Hit Tox’, resulting in the arrest of a man in the Murcia region following the discovery of thirty-four bottles of nitrous oxide, commonly referred to as laughing gas. This investigation commenced in November when local police noticed a vehicle behaving irregularly in the Baños and Mendigo area during the early hours. The driver fled at high speed, leading authorities to an abandoned vehicle on the A-30 motorway, which was found with suspicious bottles inside.

Upon examination, investigators seized thirty-four bottles of nitrous oxide, each holding six hundred and fifteen grams of the gas. Alongside these, equipment for distribution, including balloons and nozzles, as well as a point-of-sale device and multiple sales tickets, were recovered. The total cash found amounted to seven hundred and thirty-five euros.

The operation identified this case as having links to possible drug trafficking. Nitrous oxide is a liquefied gas stored under pressure, and its direct consumption can lead to burns and severe respiratory issues. The confiscated bottles could potentially produce more than five thousand doses of the gas, commonly used recreationally.

The arrested man, a local resident of Murcia, now faces charges under Article three hundred and fifty-nine of the Penal Code, which addresses crimes against public health. These serious charges carry penalties of imprisonment ranging from six months to three years, along with fines and professional disqualifications. Health authorities warn that nitrous oxide consumption can cause lasting neurological damage, psychological issues, and even death by asphyxiation.