Police in eastern Spain have arrested three people and seized 11 litres of ayahuasca, 117 San Pedro cactus plants and several bottles of toad poison after raiding two rural properties that were used to host lucrative spiritual retreats promising “astral journeys”.
Officers from the Guardia Civil force began investigating the business in the Pedreguer municipality of Alicante province five months ago after receiving a complaint from a former customer. They discovered that the retreat, which advertised online and billed itself as an award-winning and internationally renowned spiritual centre, offered “traditional curative medicine” breaks that were especially popular among European visitors.
“The three-day and five-day packages on offer cost an average of €1,000 [£865] and included lodgings, support and the substances to be taken,” the force said in a statement.
“The retreats comprised groups of up to 20 people, who were accompanied on their ‘astral journeys’ by six of the organisation’s employees. Several such retreats took place each week, leading investigators to conclude that the group made hundreds of thousands of euros over the past year – most of which was paid in cash that was not declared and which therefore left no trace. A large number of bank accounts in different countries were used.”
The Guardia Civil said 16 people had been on a retreat when the raids took place, adding that the centre did not have the necessary equipment to deal with cases of poisoning and that the concoctions were prepared in a “homemade, rudimentary laboratory that lacked hygiene measures”.
A Guardia Civil spokesperson said that ayahuasca, San Pedro, toad poison, wild rue and mimosa pudica were prohibited substances in Spain, adding that their consumption was not authorised because, while they were natural substances, they could be highly dangerous to human health.
Police photographs showed a large room, filled with mattresses, buckets and tissues, where the “astral journeys” took place.
Two men and a woman – thought to be the group’s leaders – were arrested, while five others who served as “spiritual guides” are under investigation. All are suspected of drug trafficking, money laundering and belonging to a criminal organisation.
Officers also seized 945 Ritalin tablets as well as an assortment of plant products, all of which were sent to the laboratory for testing.
While the Guardia Civil has not suggested that anyone was physically harmed as a result of the centre’s activities, they stated: “Ayahuasca, San Pedro cactus, toad secretions, wild rue and mimosa pudica are naturally derived products that can be highly damaging for humans and whose effects are difficult to predict because they depend on various factors, including an individual’s metabolism and the amounts administered. That risk increases when the toxic substances are administered by people who lack healthcare training and when they are produced in a homemade fashion.”
