The Guardia Civil has dismantled the lucrative ayahuasca hideaway in the town of Pedreguer (Alicante), which promised “spiritual vacations” for 1,000 euros, and is getting scores of complaints from consumers who feel duped after being unable to reclaim their money.
The OMMIJ Healing Centres and Be Free Retreat Centres companies were essentially a worldwide criminal network operating under the pretext of spiritual healing retreats, accused of drug trafficking and public health violations.
The organisation, which partnered with the company of David Beckham’s former bodyguard, Craig Ainsworth, has closed, leaving scores of impacted consumers feeling duped and unable to reclaim their important reserves.
The participants, who travelled from many European nations and were wealthy, spent between €845 and €1,295 per person to spend a week in the community, where they took ayahuasca, toad venom, and other chemicals with no health restrictions.
Dozens of customers have spoken on social media about the company’s silence following the agents’ arrival
At the time of the raid, there were 16 “adventurers” — as they were called — who had arrived from various parts on the world, had used up their week of astral travel, and were now demanding their money back.
Other clients demand the same thing, having already booked their plans and plane tickets to use these hallucinogenic chemicals and fearing they will never see their money again.
Affected
“They must get their fingers on the pulse and respond to every single person who had the courtesy to send OMMIJ their hard-earned money. I’m still waiting for her or someone else to draft a suitable email. “My 6-year-old daughter would do better,” complained one sufferer.
“They will read it, decide to ignore it, and take everyone’s money to keep afloat. “We should all file a lawsuit together,” said another forum user.
Others believe that the three primary perpetrators—a woman and two men who were arrested—knew this was going to happen and conducted a series of lucrative promotions in the days preceding up to the incident to generate funds, according to some of those affected.
Stay where they consumed the substances
In letters to some enquiries asking their money back, the company indicated that they cannot access its accounts or financial resources, “as our funds remain legally frozen and cash was seized during the operation in Spain.”
“At this time, we are unfortunately not in a position to take financial measures or make individual arrangements,” the officials said.
In their last formal statement, delivered in September, they addressed their clientele with the following words:
“We recognise how difficult it is for many of you to wait. In recent days, our legal staff has reminded us of a crucial fact: the light of truth always moves slowly but steadily. Nothing can be stated prematurely, but this unity gives us quiet confidence that the situation is changing,” they reported, without commenting on the sorrow of those impacted.
A cocktail of hallucinogens
In this psychedelic paradise, the Guardia Civil discovered a chemical arsenal consisting of 11 litres of ayahuasca ready for consumption, 117 species of San Pedro cactus, and many bottles of kambó toad (Phyllomedusa bicolour) secretions.
They also discovered seven kilogrammes of mimosa (Mimosa pudica), 368 kilogrammes of harmal (Peganum harmala) seeds, 945 Ritalin (methylphenidate) tablets, cash, substantial documentation, and a home laboratory for making the drugs.
There were several dozen beds in the rooms dedicated for these tests, and customers were attended to at the same time by six members of the organisation who prepared and administered the chemicals and accompanied them throughout the process, with no precautions in place to prevent poisoning.
Author: Derek Appleton
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