Spain dismantles major clandestine amphetamine laboratory in Barakaldo

Wednesday 30 September 2026 - 21:00

Spanish security forces have uncovered a large-scale clandestine facility in Barakaldo, in the Basque Country, believed to have been capable of producing up to 200 kilograms of amphetamine sulfate, commonly known as speed, every week.

The operation, known as “Presaka,” was carried out by Spain’s Civil Guard and resulted in the arrest of two people allegedly involved in different stages of the illegal production and distribution network.

Two suspects detained after laboratory raid

According to the Civil Guard, one of the suspects was responsible for the chemical synthesis of the drug, while the second allegedly coordinated logistical operations. His responsibilities reportedly included obtaining chemical precursors, managing supplies and overseeing storage facilities.

Both suspects were subsequently placed in pre-trial detention following a judicial decision.

Investigators said the operation exposed an industrial-scale setup rather than an isolated drug-production site. The laboratory’s reported production capacity reached as much as 200 kilograms of amphetamine sulfate per week, highlighting the scale of the network targeted by the authorities.

Around 100 kilograms of speed seized

The investigation also led to the seizure of approximately 100 kilograms of amphetamine sulfate.

One of the largest seizures came during the interception of a shipment containing 38 packages packed inside insulated bags. Authorities recovered around 73 kilograms of speed from that consignment.

A further 23 kilograms were discovered in a garage that investigators identified as a storage location.

The remaining seizures, along with the dismantling of the production infrastructure, provide investigators with evidence of the scale of the operation and its logistical organization.

Chemicals and specialist equipment confiscated

In addition to the finished drugs, officers confiscated acids and other chemical substances believed to have been associated with the production process.

The operation also resulted in the seizure of vacuum-packaging machines, precision scales and two vehicles. The equipment indicates that the facility was organized to process, package and move synthetic drugs on a significant scale.

Network supplied northern Spain

The Civil Guard said the clandestine operation was connected to a broader distribution network supplying synthetic drugs across several regions in northern Spain.

Among the areas reportedly targeted by the network were the Basque Country, Cantabria and Navarre.

The dismantling of the Barakaldo facility therefore represents a significant disruption to a distribution chain extending beyond the municipality itself, according to the information released by the Spanish authorities.

The investigation illustrates the increasingly organized nature of synthetic-drug production, where chemical expertise, supply chains, storage facilities and distribution networks can operate as interconnected parts of the same illicit structure.