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Date Published: 20/06/2022

Drug trafficking bust: Dozens of arrests in Alicante, Murcia and Almeria

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Police in Alicante seized 1.5 tons of hashish shipped from North Africa to Spain

Drug trafficking bust: Dozens of arrests in Alicante, Murcia and Almeria

A major criminal gang believed to be responsible for smuggling hashish into Spain from North Africa in narco-boats along the coast of Alicante has been shut down and 26 people arrested.

As part of an inter-province investigation, arrests have been made in Alicante, Murcia and Almeria and 1.5 tons of hashish, along with several firearms, vehicles, boats and 30,000 euros, was confiscated.

Operation 'Uleyla and Mar 21' was launched 12 months ago when the Guardia Civil was alerted to the possible launching of a high-speed boat - typically used by drug trafficking gangs - from the North African coast, destined for a port on the coast of Alicante.

Initial enquiries led police to two employees at a marina in Alicante who allegedly offered "security" to the criminal gang, "taking advantage of their positions".

Surveillance was set up and during a launching of a narco-boat at a marina in Guardamar del Segura, the alleged traffickers, who were being watched, fled the scene in a vehicle at full speed, destroying fencing at the port and damaging several vehicles parked in the area.

A couple of months later, in June 2021, police intercepted a trailer equipped with a 'double bottom' and a sophisticated hydraulic opening system.

Days later, the Guardia Civil thwarted the launch of another powerful 12-metre narco-boat at El Pinet, in the town of La Marina, Alicante, and two men were arrested.

Further drop-offs were hampered by police in San Juan de los Terreros and Mojácar in Almeria in which a total of 47 bales of hashish was seized.

A money laundering operation was also uncovered using 236 accounts. The probe revealed money obtained from "illicit drug activity" was exported to tax havens by means of "millionaire promissory notes", using front men or even family members and invested in foundations in South America, "making the economic trail more difficult", according to police sources.

Twenty-six people have been arrested in the Alicante towns of Torrevieja, Guardamar de Segura and Orihuela; in San Javier (Region of Murcia); and in the Almeria towns of Macael, Olula del Río, Níjar, Carboneras, Mojácar and Pulpí.

They have been charged with smuggling, drug trafficking, usurpation of civil status, false documentation, money laundering and belonging to a criminal organisation.

Now read: Alicante woman fakes own kidnapping to get attention from a make friend

Images: Guardia Civil

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