Motorcycle parking makes way
BENIDORM council has relocated the motorcycle parking bays which were at Plaza Doctor Fleming in front of the Hotel Bristol next to the iconic anchor.
The parking space has now been made into a bus and bike lane, which will become operational in the summer and approximately 50 motorcycle spaces have been created a short distance away, at the exit to the L’Aigüera park just past the town hall. The nautical emblem was ceded to the council back in 1993 by the chief admiral of the Mediterranean maritime zone. The entire area has been refurbished and decorative planters will be placed to further enhance the zone.
THE LEADER of an elusive international drug smuggling gang – known as ‘Las Anguilas’ (the eels) – has been arrested in Los Alcázares, reported the National Police.
The operation detained a total of five people in Lithuania, three in Spain (in Alicante and Murcia provinces), and one in Poland.
Officers in the three countries searched 24 properties, seizing five firearms, €50,000 in cash, 300 kilos of cocaine, 100kg of marijuana, and fake documentation.
They also dismantled two marijuana plantations in Alicante province which were looked after by the gang’s lieutenant, who is among those arrested.
“The ringleader lived discreetly and intermittently in an apartment owned by the gang in Los Alcázares, where he passed unnoticed like any other tourist and controlled the gang’s criminal activity,” explained a spokesman for the force.
The gang, which had been operating for at least 15 years in Europe, acquired drugs in Spain then transported them across Europe using boats, lorries and cars.
The investigation began in 2019 after a yacht containing 400kg of cocaine was seized
on the Caribbean archipelago of Guadalupe
Once the suspects had been identified, a simultaneous and coordinated largescale police and judicial operation was organised between the three countries.
THE CANINE unit of Elche local police has a new vehicle which is adapted to ensure the wellbeing and safety of the dogs.
City hall said the previous one was not ideal while the replacement is larger and has high tech features, including climate control to maintain a comfortable temperature for the animals, especially in the summer. It means that the unit can use more than two of its five dogs at a time and improve the force’s ability to find stashes of drugs being hidden around the municipality. The new vehicle cost approximately €70,000 and this year’s budget has allocated funding for a tender to acquire approximately 22 local police cars.
Councillor for security Ramón Abad noted that the force was also given 16 new patrol vehicles three years ago, as well as four motorcycles last year.
He added that once the pandemic situation improves, the canine unit will make more visits to schools to educate about and prevent the use of drugs.
Local police chief César Zaragoza said one of their priorities has always been to reduce drug use and dealing in public areas and schools, hence the importance of teaching youngsters about the harm they can do.