Brits busted in clandestine Basque country drugs laboratory

TWO Britons have been arrested by the Guardia Civil in the town of Leioa in the Basque country for allegedly producing large volumes of synthetic drugs which they then posted around the world.

Seized from the drugs laboratory were 17,000 units of depressants (benzodiazepine), some 8,700 cardboard doses of LSD, 10 kilos of speed, in addition to precision scales, computer equipment, envelopes, seals and other items connected with the manufacture and distribution of these drugs.

Prior to the arrests, officers had intercepted several envelopes placed in a post box next to a warehouse where it was suspected that the illegal drug production was taking place. Having verified that the envelopes did contain illegal drugs, officers raided the warehouse where they found a fully equipped laboratory together with the drugs as well as detailed records of shipping. 

The operation was carried out with technical support from the Technical Unit of the Judicial Police of the Guardia Civil, the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (AEMPS) and the collaboration of the European Police Office (EUROPOL).