- The agreement outlines joint action plans to tackle electricity fraud linked to illegal cannabis cultivation.
- It also addresses commercial scams, particularly those involving cybercrime.
- Similarly, it includes measures for mutual support and information sharing.
The General Commissariat of the Judicial Police of the Spanish National Police and Endesa have signed a cooperation protocol. The aim of this agreement is to improve collaboration in preventing and investigating crimes that affect essential services related to the generation, distribution, and supply of electricity. This protocol establishes a stronger cooperation framework to more effectively combat electricity theft, which is frequently associated with organised crime—particularly large-scale illegal cannabis grow operations.
Signed at Endesa’s headquarters by Luis Fernando Pascual Grasa (Chief Commissioner of the Judicial Police), Valerio Giardina (Global Head of Security at Enel Group), and Florencio Retortillo (Director of Security at Endesa), the agreement also addresses police investigations into equipment theft, sabotage, illegal hookups, and tampering with metering devices. In particular, in situations when these actions could compromise grid stability or pose serious risks to personal safety. The protocol also covers data theft and commercial scams targeting electricity consumers—especially those carried out by cybercriminals.
Endesa and the Judicial Police intend to intensify their collaborative efforts in preventing and investigating these crimes. The goal is protecting Endesa’s electricity infrastructure and ensuring the continuity of this essential public service. To support this, the agreement includes joint advisory activities to identify threats and risks that may impact Endesa’s infrastructure or commercial operations. It also envisions technical training sessions conducted by Endesa with the participation of the Judicial Police. Endesa has also committed to providing on-the-ground technical support to police units during operational deployments.
This enhanced cooperation will also involve information exchange, the drafting of analytical reports, and potential participation in collaborative programmes organised by the General Commissariat of the Judicial Police for private sector operators through its specialised units.
73% of all cannabis plant seizures in the EU occur in Spain.
Electricity fraud linked to indoor cannabis plantations—grow operations set up inside residential or industrial buildings—has surged in recent years in Spain. This activity is frequently connected to organised crime networks, both national and international. According to the European Drug Report 2025, Spain accounts for 73% of all cannabis plant seizures recorded in the European Union.
The tampering of electrical installations to power these plantations 24/7 creates serious problems for Endesa’s distribution grid, jeopardising people’s safety, infrastructure integrity, and the quality of power supply.
In the past year, e-distribución—Endesa’s grid subsidiary—disconnected 2,214 illegal hookups used to power indoor cannabis farms during operations led by security forces. The stolen electricity amounted to the equivalent consumption of 70,000 households.
With the new collaboration agreement, both parties aim to increase the effectiveness of police investigations into widespread electricity theft, especially when linked to illegal cannabis cultivation. The agreement also includes joint training activities and regular coordination meetings for information exchange, case tracking, and providing mutual technical and operational support.