> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://barna.news/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Catalonia Drug Warehouse Overwhelmed by Cannabis Seizures - URL: https://barna.news/catalonia-drug-warehouse-overwhelmed-by/ - Published: 2026-08-25T09:45:14.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-25T09:45:14.000Z - Description: The Mossos d'Esquadra's central drug storage in Barcelona is at capacity due to a backlog in lab analysis and judicial approvals. - Author: Laia Serra - Tags: crime, Trending Now The Magatzem Central de Substàncies Estupefaents (MACSE), the central drug warehouse for the Mossos d'Esquadra in Barcelona’s [Nou Barris](https://barna.news/mossos-investigate-violent-death-in-nou-barris/) district, has reached critical capacity as thousands of seized marijuana plants pile up. Opened in late 2023 to manage Catalonia’s growing volume of confiscated cannabis, the facility is now overwhelmed by delays in laboratory analysis and judicial authorisation for destruction. According to police sources, it now takes an average of one to one and a half years to destroy seized marijuana. The backlog has forced repeated expansions of storage infrastructure, including a recent tender for 2,106 high-density polyethylene barrels, over 600 more than the 1,500 initially planned for 2024\. The warehouse now handles drug seizures from four major police regions: Barcelona, Metropolitana Sud, Metropolitana Norte, and Girona, as well as central services. ## Unions Warn of Unsustainable Pressure > The saturation is now at its maximum. Toni Castejón, spokesperson for the Fepol police union, described the situation as unsustainable. The Department of Interior confirmed in January that three factors slow the destruction process: the need for central laboratory analysis, judicial authorisation, and incineration plant availability. The main bottleneck, Mossos sources say, is laboratory workload, which has not kept pace with seizure volumes. ## Legal Hurdles Delay Disposal Although Spanish law permits destruction of seized cannabis after one month if no court objection is raised, most officers await explicit judicial approval before acting. Some operations have destroyed plants on-site, but this remains rare. Albert Palacio of the USPAC union argues that immediate destruction should be standard, provided court-admissible samples are preserved. Both unions are calling for regulatory changes to speed up disposal and reduce storage risks. --- ## Seizure Weight Rises Despite Fewer Plants Despite a 20% drop in the number of marijuana plants seized in Catalonia last year, down to 432,000 from 581,170 in 2022, the total weight of confiscated cannabis rose 34% to 9,300 kilos. This increase in bulk per plant has intensified storage pressures. The original 2024–2025 barrel procurement plan of 3,000 units has been overtaken by demand, with over 2,100 barrels already ordered in 2024 alone. The Mossos first piloted the barrel system in the Metropolitana Norte region before expanding it. According to a 2026 report by Rebeca Carranco in EL PAÍS, the initial pilot involved 250 barrels, with plans for 1,500 in 2024 and another 1,500 in 2025\. However, the volume of seizures has far exceeded projections. ## National and Regional Challenges Storage issues are not unique to Catalonia. Across Spain, police forces face similar challenges, prompting a national protocol in 2018 and an updated agreement in 2025\. The guidelines recommend early judicial authorisation for destruction and allow disposal after a month’s notice if no objection is filed, though this is rarely used in practice. As Catalonia remains a major hub for illegal cannabis production in Europe, the Mossos d'Esquadra face mounting logistical and legal pressures. Without reforms to streamline destruction and expanded lab capacity, the MACSE facility will remain at breaking point, affecting operational efficiency and public safety. --- *Reported by catalannews.com, Rebeca Carranco, 420Magazine.com, Horaci Garcia, Guillermo Altarriba Vilanova, russpain.com.* --- ### Related on Barna.News - [49 police interventions at Muntaner drug flat this year](https://barna.news/49-police-interventions-at-muntaner-drug-flat-this-year/) - [Barcelona launches Plan Druida against drug dealing](https://barna.news/barcelona-launches-plan-druida-against/) - [Barcelona Launches Druida Plan to Tackle Drug Dealing](https://barna.news/barcelona-launches-druida-plan-to-tackle-drug-dealing/) - [Man Detained for Stealing Suitcases on High-Speed Trains](https://barna.news/man-detained-for-stealing-suitcases-on-high-speed-trains/)