Police make alarming discovery during TV broadcast of cycling race
Sporting bodies have traditionally teamed up with law enforcement to stamp out drug use, and a cycling race in Spain was no exception - just not in the way authorities are used to.
The broadcast of the Vuelta a España showed a bit more detail than producers bargained for, when an aerial shot of the race appeared to show a large drug crop growing on the roof of a building as cyclists passed through the streets below.
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Clips of the, ahem, crop were quickly circulated on social media, leading Spanish authorities to take possession of roughly 40 cannabis plants, according to a police spokeswoman.
🔴 🚁 El helicóptero de #LaVuelta19 descubre una plantación de marihuana en una azotea. pic.twitter.com/Zhry3x1rng
— AUGC Guardia Civil (@AUGC_Comunica) September 3, 2019
Police in the Spanish town of Igualada seized a sizeable amount of cannabis from a rooftop, after the race broadcast inadvertently beamed the until-then covert scheme to a national audience.
According to local news outlet ARA, neighbours had already complained to police about suspicious activity from the property’s new residents.
No arrests have been made yet, but the residents could face fines of up to 27,000 Euros.
Posteriormente Los Mossos d'Esquadra decomisaron la plantación en un edificio de Igualada (Barcelona) pic.twitter.com/YfOROzykrt
— AUGC Guardia Civil (@AUGC_Comunica) September 3, 2019
The 166.9 kilometre stage beginning in Valls was won by German rider Nikias Arndt.
The spokeswoman added that no arrests had been made and there was an ongoing investigation to find the culprits.
The Vuelta, a gruelling 21-day race through Spain and parts of France and Andorra, is the final Grand Tour of the year and finishes on Sept. 15. Slovenian Primoz Roglic currently leads the race after winning Tuesday's individual time trial.
WITH REUTERS