The Guardia Civil has arrested three men, all born in India, who were sending postal parcels containing dried opium poppy capsules to the provinces of Málaga, Ávila and Mallorca, as well as to the United States. The three men have been imprisoned for these acts and are charged with alleged crimes against public health for drug trafficking after 527 kilos of “papaver somniferum” were seized at different addresses in the town of Los Alcázares (Murcia), also known as opium poppy or royal poppy, a plant directly linked to the production of opium and its derivatives.
The detainees are at the disposal of the Investigating Court of the Judicial District of Elche. The operation began with the interception of four postal shipments containing almost seven kilos of plant-based substances at Alicante-Elche airport. After analysis, it was determined that it was “papaver somniferum”.
However, these individuals had allegedly been involved in recent thefts of this plant from legal plantations intended for pharmaceutical use located in the province of Albacete. According to the Guardia Civil, the same surname appeared on all the shipments, both on the senders and the recipients.
In addition, it was verified that all the packages had been sent from different addresses, all located in the municipality of Los Alcázares (Murcia). With this operation, named “Guru25”, which remains open, the Civil Guard has managed to dismantle a group dedicated to the theft and illegal distribution of a highly dangerous substance, preventing its commercialisation and strengthening the fight against drug trafficking and organised crime.
Opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) capsules contain concentrated alkaloids, primarily morphine, codeine, and thebaine, within their dried latex. Known as “poppy tears,“ this latex is harvested by scoring immature pods and is used for medicinal opioids (heroin, oxycodone) and the illegal trade. These capsules, often processed as straw, are a major source for pharmaceutical opiates and are highly regulated.