Vapes secretly laced with illegal levels of THC have been caught being sold in Alicante.
Police began investigating in late 2024 when a string of drivers tested positive for the drug but insisted they had never ingested the substance.
They had all consumed products from a CBD distribution company based in the expat haven of Elche.
A raid by the Policia Nacional, revealed this week, uncovered what investigators describe as a nationwide network laundering drug money while masquerading as a legitimate business distributing cannabidiol (CBD) products.
The group’s activity allegedly spanned multiple provinces including Alicante, Valencia, Albacete, Logroño, and even Tudela del Duero.
Five suspects are now behind bars, accused of crimes against public health and belonging to a criminal organization.
Late last year, officers in Elche noticed a pattern: a spike in THC-positive drug tests among drivers, many of whom swore they hadn’t touched a joint.
Instead, they claimed to have used CBD-based items – legally sold and widely perceived as non-psychoactive.
That discrepancy triggered an administrative probe by Elche’s Local Police Activities Unit, which raided several shops cited by drivers.
Lab tests confirmed what officers feared: many of the products contained THC levels far exceeding the legal limit of 0.2%. In some cases, the concentration reached 1.4% – a psychoactive punch that can impair driving and endanger lives.
The case was escalated to the Policia Nacional’s narcotics division.
At the heart of the alleged criminal network was a company registered as a flower shop in Elche. But far from arranging roses, police say its real business was importing and distributing CBD products stuffed with illegal THC content.
Operating since 2022, the group sold these items wholesale to tobacconists and boutique wellness shops across the country.
Products ranged from pre-rolled vapes and dried cannabis buds to creams, cosmetics, and even ‘intimate gels’ – all marketed as therapeutic health products.
But behind the polished packaging was a sophisticated laundering operation. Investigators say the gang used slick online videos and social media ads promising a ‘safe and relaxing’ experience to hook customers.
Sales reportedly skyrocketed 19,500% in just three years – from €20,000 in revenue to over €2 million.
Three coordinated raids in Elche yielded eye-watering results: 11,744 ready-to-sell doses, 181 kilos of vacuum-packed raw product, and €3,000 in cash.
Officers also swept through 20 stores in towns like Elda, Santa Pola, Alicante, and Almoradí, confiscating nearly 1,200 more units of suspect goods.
The seized items – many labeled as benign wellness products – carried enough psychoactive content to impair judgment, memory, and motor skills.
The arrests come amid growing scrutiny of the CBD industry in Spain, which has long operated in a legal grey zone. While CBD itself is not considered a narcotic, any product with THC levels above 0.2% is illegal.
