Police make major dent in Algarve cannabis production

A total of 2,000 individual doses of cannabis and two dozen plants grown in a sophisticated greenhouse system near Moncarapacho, in the municipality of Olhão, were seized earlier this week by the GNR.

According to a statement from Faro GNR, the cannabis plants were grown with a hydroponic system, whereby the roots are only in contact with water “a high tech system supported by a structure of a size not yet seen,” and which reduced the time needed for plants to grow.
During the search that took place in homes and greenhouses in an isolated area, which allegedly belong to a Swedish family, police found the entire plantation process, from growing to drying and packaging the drugs.
Two pit bulls guarded the entrance to the drug den, which had been under investigation by the Tavira Criminal Investigation branch of the GNR for several months prior to the raid.
A 40 year-old man was arrested during the operation, and another aged 25 was caught on Monday afternoon during another search that led to more cannabis being seized.
Aside from the 2,000 doses of the drug and the plants, various accessories used to package and weigh the drugs were also seized by the police.
The greenhouse was dismantled and the parts seized, while two vehicles with fake British number plates were also taken.
The GNR believe that this operation has led to one of the main production and distribution points for cannabis in the Algarve now being dismantled.
Meanwhile, Silves GNR seized 11 cannabis plants, 151 grammes of dried and packaged drugs and 70 cannabis plant seeds from the gardens of two properties near Armação de Pêra on Monday. This operation led to the arrest of three men aged between 24 and 47.