Massive police raid targets drug gang
Police continue to investigate leads in the case
SUSPECTED members of an armed gang who were trafficking drugs ‘on a large scale’ in Alicante province have been arrested by the National Police.
Raids were carried out in Alicante city, Alcoy and Cocentaina by the special organised crime force, in which they seized three weapons that were ‘loaded and ready for use’, along with 50 kilos of marijuana and €100,000 in cash.
The guns were to ‘protect their drugs and themselves’, according to the police.
Organised crime detectives started investigating the gang back in February last year after receiving information about ‘various Moroccan and Spanish citizens’ who were running large quantities of marijuana and hashish.
At first, the police had arrested suspects involved in more ‘minor’ crimes such as break-ins and scams which had been ‘carried out on an individual basis’, explained a force spokesman.
However, they found that they belonged to a ‘more complex criminal organisation’.
They drove very expensive cars and ‘lived the high life’ despite having no official means of employment.
As detectives investigated the case, they found that this was a hierarchical gang which had members with clearly defined roles.
A leader was identified, who had a personal bodyguard that accompanied him ‘whenever they were closing deals or he was needed for other functions’.
Other members dealt with logistics, such as finding secure places to store the drugs and organising large-scale distribution of these substances and receiving payments.
They also had dealers who sold the drugs on a smaller scale. The spokesman highlighted the ‘large profits’ made by the gang in the criminal activity.
The sting
The National Police pulled out all the stops when they finally decided to move on the gang.
The air support unit was brought in along with ‘different specialised units’ and officers from the GOES special operations squad in Valencia.
Operation command decided to arrest the suspects in their own homes – seven men and a woman aged between 26 and 36 years old; three of them Spaniards and five from Morocco.
Only one of the suspects did not have a criminal record for similar offences and one of them was found to be in
Spain illegally.
As well as the drugs, weapons and cash, officers seized four high-powered vehicles which had allegedly been used in the criminal activity.
Six of the suspects have been ‘put at the disposition’ of courts in Alcoy and Alicante.
The spokesman said the investigation remains open as detectives are investigating other possible links to the criminal enterprise.