Altea arrests linked to drug gang

A DOZEN people arrested in Altea were connected to a National Police operation against drug dealing which extended to Palma de Mallorca, Cuidad Real and Barcelona.

A total of 29 people were detained and officers seized a plantation of around 5,000 cannabis plants, 100 kilos of marijuana buds, 20kg of hashish and 1kg of cocaine.

The gang was of SpanishBulgarian origin and operated at an international level, regularly transporting large quantities of marijuana and hashish from Valencia province to Hanover and Hamburg in northern Germany using large trucks.

They had recently acquired an HGV truck tractor unit and all the licences required to set up a front company which seemed completely legal to cover their real activity.

The drugs were hidden amongst the declared cargo on the truck, principally regular shipments of fruit and vegetables from Spain to northern Europe.

Their warehouses in Xeresa (Valencia) and Valencia city had tight security measures and were guarded by gang members 24 hours a day.

Inside them the drugs were prepared, pressed and packaged for transportation.

During the investigation, officers seized 20kg of hashish and over €100,000, and arrested 12 members of a Moroccan gang based in Altea.

Two more suspects were arrested in Alicante province and another suspect was caught at El Prat airport in Barcelona, having arrived from Nador with 1,800g of hashish inside his body.

Early this year the force took down a group in Palma, where officers dismantled a laboratory for adulterating cocaine, arrested four people and seized over 1kg of the drug, as well as cutting substances and €40,000 in cash. To conclude the operation, several searches were authorised, including a warehouse on an industrial estate in Tomelloso (Cuidad Real) where a plantation was found.

As well as the abovementioned drugs, officers also seized various sums of cash, three high-end vehicles and the truck tractor, arresting 10 more people in the process.