Las autoridades españolas arrestan a 9 personas por defraudar más de $678 millones

Nine gang members have been apprehended in a global crackdown for scamming individuals in 35 countries out of more than $686 million through a fictitious medicinal marijuana enterprise. The Spanish National Police disclosed the arrests on Saturday, collaborating with Europol and the European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation to conduct raids on the suspects’ residences.

The suspects, whose identities remain undisclosed, were taken into custody on April 11 on suspicion of fraud in Spain, Latvia, England, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the Dominican Republic. The elaborate scheme involved promoting a non-existent company named JuicyFields, offering investors the opportunity to become “potpreneurs” with promises of a 70-168% return on investment.

The fraudsters also allegedly attended international cannabis expos to persuade victims of the legitimacy of their medicinal marijuana business. In England alone, an estimated 180,000 individuals fell prey to the scam, which included arranging visits to purported legal marijuana farms to entice potential investors.

The arrests mark a significant breakthrough in dismantling the fraudulent operation that spanned across multiple countries. The suspects now face charges of fraud in various jurisdictions, shedding light on the intricate web of deceit woven by the criminal syndicate. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.