The Civil Guard has dismantled in La Vila Joiosa (Alicante) a clandestine workshop for the transformation of detonator weapons into real firearms, for the manufacture of artisanal gunpowder and metal cartridges.
A person has been arrested as the perpetrator of the crimes of depositing weapons of war and regulated firearms, illegal manufacture and deposit of ammunition, illegal manufacture and deposit of explosives, and the crime of risk caused by explosives and other agents. This is a 48-year-old man with military experience abroad.
In the search of the detainee’s home, the Civil Guard found more than 500 grams of homemade gunpowder and almost four kilos of precursors and chemicals that the author used to make said gunpowder at home.
The agents have also seized more than 1,200 cartridge cases and projectiles, a cartridge reloading press and other accessories, as well as nearly 300 cartridges already finished and ready to be used. Given the danger of these gunpowders and precursors, the Explosive Deactivation Technicians (TEDAX) of the Civil Guard had to act, who took charge of them for their destruction.
During the search of his home, a total of 11 detonating weapons already manipulated to carry out live fire were also seized, several of them loaded and ready to be fired; as well as another 10 detonating weapons in the process of being converted into real firearms for which their barrels had been manipulated.
Among these seized weapons, a MAC 11 submachine gun, manipulated to fire short 9 mm caliber ammunition, stands out for its danger. Given its ability to fire automatically (machine gun), it is legally classified as a weapon of war, so its possession is prohibited by individuals.
In addition to the detonating weapons, numerous artisanal cannons that the detainee used to manipulate and assemble complete weapons capable of firing live fire have also been seized.
The investigation began in May 2023 when the Information Headquarters of the Civil Guard learned through the Intelligence Center against Terrorism and Organized Crime (CITCO) of a suspicious transaction of explosives precursors.
So far this year, there have already been five operations carried out by the Information Headquarters of the Civil Guard against the illegal manufacture of explosive mixtures based on precursors.
Operation “Intrepitus” has been developed by the Information Headquarters of the Civil Guard with the support of the Information Group, the GEDEX and the USECIC of the Alicante Command, and the Cynological Service (weapons and explosives detection dogs).
