TARRAGONA – The Guardia Civil has arrested ten people linked to a sophisticated criminal organisation. This group stands accused of illegally harvesting almost 1,000 tonnes of mastic shrub from protected Catalan forests. Over three and a half years, the international ring allegedly laundered an estimated €32 million by smuggling the valuable plant material to the Netherlands.
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Dubbed “Operación Lentina,” the police operation targeted a network systematically plundering the mastic shrub, scientifically known as Pistacia lentiscus, from ecologically sensitive areas. Often called the “green gold” of Catalan forests, the plant’s value has soared recently due to high demand in the horticulture and pharmaceutical industries for its ornamental and antimicrobial properties.
The Guardia Civil stated the group operated primarily in Tarragona province between July 2020 and December 2023. Investigators found they targeted areas within the Serra de Llaberia Natural Protected Area and the Baix Ebre region, both part of the pan-European Natura 2000 network of protected conservation sites.
A Sophisticated Criminal Operation
Beginning in late 2023, the investigation revealed a highly organised criminal enterprise. The group allegedly used small crews of vulnerable, undocumented workers for the illegal harvesting. These workers stripped mastic branches, which vans then transported to a central warehouse in Reus. From Reus, they prepared the material for clandestine shipment to the Netherlands.
An initial breakthrough occurred when agents from the Guardia Civil’s Nature Protection Service (Seprona) inspected the Reus warehouse, seizing four tonnes of freshly harvested mastic. This discovery, supported by Europol, enabled investigators to unravel the network’s logistics and trace the illicit goods’ final destination.
Subsequently, raids on eleven homes and business premises across Barcelona and Tarragona yielded over €160,000 in cash, several high-end vehicles, and 6,500 kilograms of mastic. Authorities also froze assets, including €1 million in bank accounts, 22 cars, and 23 properties linked to the organisation.
The Human and Ecological Toll
The illegal harvesting’s environmental impact has been devastating. An initial expert report by Seprona, cited in Catalan media outlet Ara, estimates ecological damage at €3.77 million. The report highlights that continued, indiscriminate mastic extraction fragments natural habitats. As a vital food and shelter source for Mediterranean birds and insects, the plant’s removal directly contributes to biodiversity loss.
Furthermore, the harvesting methods compact the soil, accelerating erosion. Waste left by workers also significantly increases the risk of forest fires. This poses a serious threat to a region already on high alert, where emergency services, like the Catalan firefighters who recently launched a region-wide blood drive, serve as a critical lifeline.
The operation also exposed a grim human element. The Guardia Civil estimates the exploitation of up to 250 irregular workers, many in vulnerable situations, for harvesting without social security registration. Tragically, authorities are also investigating the December death of a man associated with the organisation during harvesting activities.
