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ARCHIVED - Benidorm police arrest one of the most wanted drug traffickers in Europe
The Dutch gang member is accused of smuggling large amounts of cocaine and the 'zombie drug' into the UK and Netherlands
A major figure in a Dutch drugs trafficking gang, believed to be one of the largest and most active in Europe, has been arrested in Benidorm.
The 44-year-old is considered the criminal organisiation's second in command, and his capture was simultaneous with the arrests of seven other alleged group members in the Netherlands and Belgium.
The detainee, who was living with his family in a rented house leading a "discreet" lifestyle, is accused of smuggling 840 kilos of cocaine in the Netherlands, 106 kilos of cocaine in the UK and laundering at least six million euros. During the raids, in which 17 house searches were carried out, Spanish, Belgian and Dutch police seized weapons, chemicals and other prohibited substances such as crystal meth, widely known as the 'zombie drug'.
The international operation was carried out by the Guardia Civil in collaboration with the National Police Service of the Netherlands where the gang's activities centred. The Dutch authorities arrested the 'organisation leader', a 60-year-old man and well-known drug trafficker with a long criminal record.
According to the Guardia Civil, the gang "specialised in the large-scale production of synthetic drugs and had extensive experience in this field".
"It had important contacts in several countries and officers realised that the leader's right-hand man could be living in Spain, so they contacted the Guardia Civil, who located him in Benidorm"
The detainee arrested has been handed over to the Madrid courts to begin the extradition process.
Last month, the authorities in Benidorm caught up with a violent and dangerous Dutchman wanted by the authorities in the Netherlands for assault, making threats and illegal detention.
Image: Guardia Civil
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