The Largest Marijuana Cultivation Facilities in the Czech Republic
Czechs are among the largest cannabis consumers in the world. But where does marijuana come from in the Czech market? In the Czech Republic, Vietnamese have dominated the black market for marijuana. They manage this business well, as evidenced by the number of discovered Vietnamese large-scale plantations.
Police statistics also prove that the number of plantations and the amount of cultivated plants continue to grow. The year 2012 is particularly fertile for discovered large-scale plantations. Dozens of cannabis plantations are uncovered annually, mostly in apartments.
However, this year the largest marijuana plantation in Czech history was discovered.
Largest Czech Plantation - 5,600 Plants
The largest Czech plantation so far was discovered by police in June 2012 in the Chomutov region. During the police operation called Dukla, a surprise awaited the officers. The entire action lasted several months after the raid. Police charged 7 Czechs and 6 Vietnamese for cultivating 5,600 cannabis plants. To produce almost half a ton of marijuana worth approximately 40 million crowns, growers needed a large amount of electricity. Diesel generators were the energy source.
Only one Vietnamese man took care of all the plants, who was imprisoned by his colleagues in the plantation. He received food and drink daily through an elevator shaft. Two Czechs were behind the entire group, each facing about 12 years in prison.
Moravičany in Olomouc Region - 3,600 Plants
About 14 days before most plants' harvest, police raided a large plantation in Moravičany in the Olomouc region after long-term surveillance. They found approximately 3,600 plants. In connection with cultivation, six Vietnamese were detained who had truly taken great care in building the plantation. The former furniture factory was hermetically sealed to prevent odor leakage. Inside temperatures reached about 30 degrees. The facility contained rooms with plants at various heights, including drying rooms. As in most cases, excessive electricity bills revealed the large plantation. The electricity advance was around 450,000. The total value of seized marijuana was estimated at about 10 million crowns. The value of cultivation equipment was estimated at 2.5 million.
Plantation in Ústí nad Labem - 3,000 Plants
In April 2008, police found a large plantation in Northern Bohemia. A nine-member Vietnamese group exported crops abroad, primarily to Germany and the Netherlands. Along with the plants, 50 kg of dried marijuana was discovered. The National Anti-Drug Center worked on the case with the code name Rákos for approximately half a year. The Alien Police also detained three dealers who exported drugs abroad.
Plantation in Prague's Horní Počernice - 2,000 Plants
Unauthorized electricity consumption in January 2010, reported by an energy company employee, led to the discovery of one of Prague's largest plantations. 2,000 plants were found on site. A group of six Asians was detained in the morning when a patrol came to investigate the source of potential illegal electricity consumption. The top-equipped plantation on a farm in Horní Počernice produced so much marijuana that police had to transport it for two days. The group was charged not only with drug production and possession but also theft. Unauthorized electricity consumption caused damage of approximately one million crowns to Prague Energy. According to the energy spokesperson, this is the consumption of a small village.
Largest Plantation in Zlín Region - 1,618 Plants
The previously record-breaking Zlín plantation was discovered in July 2012. An unprecedented police operation began on June 26 this year near Kroměříž, on an abandoned farm in Jankovice. A thirty-year-old "gardener" who cared for 1,618 plants was detained on site. He lived in the farm and had food and drink for weeks. Police later detained three more men in connection with the case. Crops from the farm, with a total value of up to 12 million crowns, represented the largest seizure in the Zlín region so far. The plantation's discovery was primarily contributed by the "smell" that permeated the surrounding area. Very clear evidence were electricity bills exceeding 120,000 crowns monthly.
Large Plantation Directly in Ostrava City Center - 1,500 Plants
Directly in the city center, police discovered a plantation at the beginning of 2012, hiding an estimated 1,500 cannabis plants and about 600 young cuttings. About 2kg of dried marijuana was also seized on site. Two Vietnamese and one Czech are behind the crops. However, they are likely not the "investors" of the entire plantation, only gardeners and dealers. Police estimate that after selling, the growers' total earnings would reach around 10 million. Noteworthy was the location of the high-tech plantation, situated directly in Ostrava's center, just hundreds of meters from the regional police headquarters!