More than 800kg of hashish have been found hidden inside fake tomato tins during a major anti-drug operation in Malaga province.

The operation, carried out jointly by the Policia Nacional and the Customs Surveillance Service of the Tax Agency, led to the arrest of two Lithuanian nationals who have now been remanded in custody.

Investigators discovered a total of 816 kilos of hashish inside an industrial warehouse in Mollina, where the drug was being disguised as legitimate food products before being shipped across Europe.

According to police, the hashish arrived at the warehouse by truck before being processed inside the industrial unit.

Officers say members of the criminal organisation heated the drug in several ovens installed inside the building before moulding the hashish into cylindrical shapes designed to fit inside cans resembling tomato preserves.

The fake tins were then sealed and labelled using the branding of a well-known commercial food company that had no connection to the operation.

Authorities became suspicious after detecting repeated movements involving a foreign-registered lorry entering and leaving the industrial estate.

The investigation, led by Antequera’s Judicial Police unit alongside Customs Surveillance officers, eventually identified the warehouse as the gang’s logistics hub.

Police raided the premises on April 30, where they found the drugs already packaged and prepared for distribution.

The two suspects are facing charges linked to drug trafficking and membership of a criminal organisation.

A court in Antequera has ordered both men to remain in pre-trial detention while investigations continue.

Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.