Els Poblets family drug clan in custody

A WELL-KNOWN family of drug peddlers has been busted in Els Poblets after being shopped by an anonymous local resident.

Guardia Civil officers based in neighbouring El Verger got wind of the case at the end of last year and called in back-up from the force in Calpe to investigate.

A Spaniard aged 61, known locally as 'the grandfather of coke', was found to be the ringleader of a professionally-structured and highly-coordinated family gang with an established clientèle and points of sale in the village, and in El Verger. He operated in local bars, surreptitiously handing over his illicit goods in exchange for money.

Police say the organised criminal racket had over 100 regular customers who attended the fixed meeting points daily.

These sometimes even included supermarket car parks, or his house on the outskirts of Els Poblets.

A series of different cars were seen arriving and leaving at every hour of the day and night, say police, who set up a look-out point.

When he was unable to close transactions personally, the accused's wife, 55, his daughter, 37 and son-in-law, 33, would handle them on his behalf.

The women also acted as debt-collectors and threatened non-payers with physical violence to themselves or their families.

Clients said the dealers believed they were 'untouchable' and were not afraid of being caught.

The parents were arrested a month ago and the younger couple a fortnight later after a raid on the formers' property revealed large quantities of cocaine and marijuana.